The Toronto Maple Leafs had chances to pull this one out late, but the comeback fell short in a 5-4 regulation loss to the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday (Oct. 13). The defeat dropped Toronto to 3-3-1 to start the 2026-27 season.
There were a few bright spots buried inside the loss, but the night still ended the same way it did for the scoreline: the Maple Leafs left Utah without a point.
One of the clearest positives came from Gavin McKenna, who scored the second goal of his career midway through the third period to trim the deficit to one. That goal also kept his point streak rolling to four games, and he has five points over that stretch.
Toronto’s special teams also did its part. The Maple Leafs struck twice on the power play, with Auston Matthews scoring to make it 3-1 and John Tavares adding another later to pull the game to 5-3.
Still, when the Leafs got another chance late with the goalie pulled for a 6-on-4, they couldn’t cash in. Utah held on.
Auston gets us one back 🚨 pic.twitter.com/MXFfMvDayN
- Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 14, 2026
The bigger issue came at the other end. Anthony Stolarz started in goal and had a rough night, stopping 23 of 28 shots. He finished with a 5.26 goals-against average, an .821 save percentage, and a -2.56 goals-saved-above-expected mark.
Easton Cowan also had a tough game. He didn’t generate much offensively, and defensively he was on the ice for three goals against at 5-on-5.
Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka had his own struggles, but Toronto couldn’t turn that into enough damage. The Maple Leafs scored four times, which usually gives a team a chance, yet they were outshot and never fully found the extra push needed to erase the gap. Vejmelka finished with a 4.07 GAA, an .846 SV%, and a -0.99 GSAX.
Now the Leafs turn the page. Their next chance comes Thursday (Oct. 15) against the Buffalo Sabres in Toronto.
The Sabres are expected to be without Rasmus Dahlin, and both teams enter at 3-3-1, with a chance to grab their fourth win instead of their fifth loss. The expectation is that Sergei Bobrovsky will be back between the pipes.
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Leafs Chemistry Problem Is Putting Early Pressure On Jim Hiller
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The problem is that the search for the right fit can become its own source of pressure, especially when the forward group keeps changing around them. Past coaching voices have long stressed how important consistent linemates can be, and right now the Leafs are still in that awkward space where the possibilities are open but the answers are not yet clear, leaving Hiller to keep adjusting while the team waits for something to click. [Read more 🡒]