The Toronto Maple Leafs saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, falling 2-1 to the Vancouver Canucks on the road. The game itself was largely uneventful, with Vancouver managing to hold off a late push from Toronto to secure the victory.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was not particularly pleased with how his team performed through the first two periods. The game was tied 1-1 entering the third after Morgan Rielly scored with just six seconds remaining in the second frame. In an attempt to generate more offense, Berube made significant changes to the forward lines for the final period, but the adjustments did not lead to any notable improvements.
Bobby McMann saved an empty-net goal pic.twitter.com/FbXzBxJU3p
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 9, 2025
While Toronto ultimately came up short, a few individual performances stood out. Pontus Holmberg was once again effective in drawing penalties, extending his team lead in that category. His efforts were rewarded with a promotion to the third line during the game. Berube appears to be a fan of Holmberg’s play, but his ideal role is likely as a fourth-line left-winger who can fill in at center when necessary. Toronto’s third line remains an area of concern, particularly as the trade deadline approaches.
Nick Robertson had a frustrating night, as he was repeatedly tripped but did not draw any penalties. He spent most of the game on the fourth line and was limited to just over ten minutes of ice time. With the upcoming break, Robertson will have an opportunity to reset and refocus. His name has been mentioned in trade speculation, and it remains to be seen if the team will move on from him. While his effort level is never in question, his inconsistent production may lead the front office to explore potential deals.
On defense, Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev have been developing strong chemistry as a pairing. Their play complemented each other well against Vancouver, and although both are better suited for second-pairing roles, they have become the team’s most reliable defensive duo at the moment.
Bobby McMann continued his impressive play, showcasing both speed and intelligence on the ice. He came close to extending his scoring streak early in the game with a well-placed wrist shot but was denied. One of his most notable contributions, however, was a crucial defensive play late in the game, preventing an empty-net goal and keeping the Leafs’ chances alive.
In goal, Joseph Woll delivered a solid performance, stopping 23 of the 25 shots he faced. With the team not scheduled to play again until February 22, the extended break comes at an ideal time for both Woll and Anthony Stolarz. Woll has already played more games this season than he did in the previous one, and the additional rest will be beneficial given his injury history. Meanwhile, Stolarz, who had been sidelined, managed to get back into action before the break and appears to be regaining his form. Toronto’s goaltending depth remains one of its biggest strengths, reinforcing the notion that the team should be aggressive at the trade deadline to bolster its roster for a deep playoff run.
Despite the loss, the Maple Leafs enter the two-week break in a strong position. They currently sit second in the Atlantic Division with a 33-20-2 record, and while there are a few areas that could use improvement, the overall outlook remains positive. If management makes the right moves ahead of the trade deadline on March 7, the team has a legitimate shot at contending for the Stanley Cup this season.