Maple Leafs Look to Build Momentum After Ending Skid - But Questions Still Linger
Saturday night was a much-needed breath of fresh air for the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a rough stretch, they finally snapped their losing streak with a shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks. But with the Calgary Flames up next, the question isn’t just who can keep it going-it’s who can start turning the corner for real.
Nylander Returns, and Even Without a Point, He Makes His Presence Known
William Nylander didn’t find the scoresheet in his return, but let’s be clear: his impact was felt. After missing seven games with a groin injury, he stepped back into the lineup and looked like he hadn’t missed a shift. His backhand goal in the shootout sealed the win and reminded everyone just how dangerous he is when he’s dialed in.
Before the injury, Nylander was on a heater-12 points in six games, leading the Leafs in both assists and total points. Even when he’s not scoring, he’s the kind of player who bends the ice in his direction. His return gives Toronto a spark at a time when they badly need it.
Matthews Keeps Carrying the Load, Domi Keeps Climbing
Auston Matthews continues to do what superstars do-shoulder the weight. He missed a penalty shot in overtime but came right back and buried his shootout attempt with the kind of calm that’s become his trademark. He’s been the engine all season, and nights like this just reinforce that.
Max Domi, meanwhile, is quietly turning into one of the team’s most consistent forwards. He’s riding a five-game point streak and seems to bring a little extra juice every time he faces Calgary-he had a two-goal night against them back in October.
His goal in Vancouver wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of composed finish that shows he’s settling into his role. And that role might be growing.
Domi’s Earned a Bigger Role-Now What?
Over the past few weeks, Domi’s been one of the few Leafs consistently pushing the pace. He’s not just skating hard-he’s making plays, driving offense, and making every line he’s on look a little more dangerous. With Toronto still searching for reliable secondary scoring, it’s hard to ignore the case for giving Domi more ice time, maybe even a look on the power play or a bump up the lineup.
He’s earned the trust, and in a season where depth scoring has been hit-or-miss, that kind of reliability is gold.
Fraser Minten’s Rookie of the Month Honors Stir Up Trade Regret
This one stings. Fraser Minten’s Rookie of the Month award has reopened a wound that never really healed. The Leafs traded Minten and a first-round pick to Boston last March for Brandon Carlo, a move that raised eyebrows at the time-and looks even worse now.
Minten has 14 goals and 29 points through 55 games. He plays a mature, two-way game and looks like the kind of center you build around, not ship out.
For context, only four Leafs have more goals this season: Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, and McMann. That’s it.
Carlo, on the other hand, has struggled to find his footing. Just four points in 32 games, and his defensive play has been under the microscope.
He’s had moments where he’s looked overwhelmed, and while there’s still time for him to turn it around, the early returns aren’t flattering. Minten’s 14 points in his last 14 games only make the contrast sharper.
It’s too soon to call it a disaster-but it’s not trending in the Leafs’ favor.
Easton Cowan’s Scratch Was a Reset, Not a Reprimand
Easton Cowan sat out the Vancouver game, but this wasn’t a punishment-it was a reset. He burst onto the scene earlier this season, making the team out of junior and bringing energy, speed, and creativity. But lately, that spark has dimmed a bit.
His legs haven’t looked as lively, the puck hasn’t been sticking to his blade the same way, and the confidence plays that defined his early success just haven’t been there. Head coach Craig Berube framed the scratch as a mental breather, and that tracks. When young players start thinking too much, the game gets heavy.
Cowan’s also been asked to do more with less. Early in the season, he was skating alongside top-six talent like Tavares and Nylander.
Now he’s anchoring a fourth-line role, where there’s less room to create and more focus on structure. That’s a tough adjustment, especially for a 19-year-old still learning the NHL grind.
The Leafs need structure right now, and that’s affecting where Cowan fits. But don’t count him out-this could be the kind of short-term step back that leads to a stronger finish.
Looking Ahead: Flames, Oilers, and the Olympic Break
Tonight’s game against Calgary is more than just another matchup-it’s a test of whether Toronto can build on Saturday’s win. The Flames have struggled, but they bring speed, edge, and a dangerous shorthanded threat in Joel Farabee, who seems to find the net no matter the situation. Morgan Frost is also starting to heat up, giving Calgary another weapon the Leafs can’t ignore.
Toronto can’t afford to feed Calgary’s transition game or get sloppy with the puck, especially on the power play. The Flames thrive on mistakes.
After tonight, the Leafs head to Edmonton on Tuesday for a showdown with the Oilers-always a marquee matchup. Then comes the Olympic break, a much-needed pause before the stretch run. They’ll be off until Feb. 25, when they return to action with a tough back-to-back in Florida.
It’s a brutal stretch on paper, but maybe that’s exactly what this team needs: a challenge to sharpen their focus and define who they are heading into the final third of the season.