vs Detroit

In a performance that perfectly encapsulates the emotional roller coaster of being a Buds fan, the team managed to outshoot Detroit 40-15 and still find a way to lose. It was a masterclass in dominating possession while forgetting that the objective is to actually prevent the puck from entering the home net. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring, but the real twist of the knife came from James van Riemsdyk, because of course a former Leaf would find the back of the net in Scotiabank Arena wearing the wrong jersey. It’s the hockey equivalent of seeing an ex at a party looking better than ever.

True to form, the squad decided to make things interesting in the third period just to ensure the heartbreak would be as potent as possible. Matthew Knies and Calle Jarnkrok buried goals to erase a two-goal deficit, briefly tricking the crowd into believing a comeback was imminent. Hope is a dangerous thing in this city, and it was promptly extinguished when Mason Appleton scored at the 19:15 mark of the final frame. Losing on the 15th shot against while firing 40 at the other end is a specific brand of frustration that this franchise has truly mastered. Plan the parade, or perhaps just a very long walk into Lake Ontario.