vs Montréal

Losing to Montreal at Scotiabank Arena is a Toronto heritage moment, right up there with overpriced rent and constant gridlock. Alex Newhook and Riley Kidney built a lead for the visitors; the boys in blue appeared to be checking their reflections in the glass instead of playing defense. John Tavares found the back of the net to cut the deficit, providing just enough false hope to keep the crowd from heading for the exits, which is the most cruel gift a captain can give.

Lane Hutson and Sean Farrell effectively ended the suspense, carving through the defense like it was an open skate. William Nylander’s goal served as a classic bit of window dressing, making a 4-2 loss look slightly more dignified than the performance actually deserved. Getting outshot twenty-nine to twenty-three at home is a bold strategy, but the Leafs are nothing if not committed to the bit of making life difficult for the people who keep buying the jerseys.