@ Calgary

The Leafs managed to escape Calgary with a win which is usually the part of the script where we all start believing again before the inevitable heartbreak. William Nylander decided to work for his paycheck immediately by scoring thirty-five seconds into the game. It was a bizarre start because Calgary actually controlled the flow of play and outshot the Leafs seven to two in the opening frame but somehow Toronto led on the scoreboard. Things got even weirder in the second period when Joseph Woll got a penalty for holding the stick of all things. That little skirmish with Mikael Backlund apparently woke up the offense because Matias Maccelli and unlikely hero Troy Stecher pushed the lead to three.

Naturally the comfort did not last because this team is allergic to a stress-free lead. Former Leaf Nazem Kadri reminded everyone he still exists by scoring and then Joel Farabee cut the lead to one while the defense mostly watched. Calgary dominated the third period with thirteen shots to the seven from Toronto and it felt like the collapse was coming right on schedule. Joseph Woll stood on his head with twenty-eight saves to keep the lead intact while Auston Matthews spent the game winning eighty-two percent of his faceoffs instead of scoring. Bobby McMann finally iced it with an empty net goal to secure the four to two result. It was a fine performance but let us all stay calm and remember exactly who we are dealing with here.