@ Colorado

Leaving the high altitude of Colorado with two points feels like finding a twenty-dollar bill in a pair of jeans I haven’t washed since 2004—unexpected, slightly confusing, but I’ll take it. Easton Cowan gave us that fleeting sense of hope with an early goal, only for the universe to correct itself as Cale Makar and Brock Nelson scored back-to-back to remind us that being a Leafs fan is mostly just a long-term endurance test in disappointment. It was a classic display of the defensive structure usually reserved for a game of pond hockey between toddlers.

Bobby McMann managed to tie the score in the second, and Auston Matthews did his usual thing in the third, putting us in a position to actually win a game in regulation. Of course, the script wouldn’t be complete without Martin Necas tying it up late to ensure our collective blood pressure stayed at a dangerous level. We survived 34 shots and a chaotic finish just to get to overtime, which is basically the Leafs' way of saying they don’t value our sleep or our sanity.

William Nylander eventually put us out of our misery, sniping the winner with a minute left in the extra frame. It was a gutsy performance against a powerhouse, which means the local media will likely plan a parade route by the morning while the rest of us wait for the inevitable collapse against a team at the bottom of the standings. It’s a road win to be proud of, but let’s be real: I’ve seen this movie before, and I’m still waiting for a plot twist that doesn't involve a heartbreaking handshake line in May.