@ Tampa Bay

The script is as predictable as a transit delay in January. After a scoreless first period where the Leafs actually outshot Tampa and looked like a professional hockey team, the wheels fell off during a disastrous middle frame. Tampa rained eighteen shots on Anthony Stolarz while the defense decided to take a collective nap. Brayden Point and Gage Goncalves scored less than a minute apart to put everyone in a familiar state of misery. Oliver Ekman-Larsson tried to show some life by picking up a roughing penalty immediately after the second goal, but it mostly just added to the general sense of chaos.

Nikita Kucherov added a third goal early in the final period because apparently thirty goals this season just isn't enough for him. The Leafs teased everyone with a classic late surge that meant absolutely nothing in the standings. John Tavares finally buried a power play goal with less than four minutes left, only for Brayden Point to immediately score again eleven seconds later to kill the vibe. Matthew Knies managed to find the back of the net shortly after that, but it was just a nice little consolation prize in a game where the team was outclassed when it mattered most.

Simon Benoit had a particularly long outing for all the wrong reasons, finishing with two penalties and a minus two rating. While William Nylander picked up two assists and Auston Matthews did his best to draw penalties instead of scoring goals, the overall effort felt like a group of guys who forgot they were playing a contender. Anthony Stolarz finished with an eighty eight point nine save percentage, which is basically the goaltending equivalent of a shrug. We will all be back for more punishment soon because that is just the burden we choose to carry.