Sometimes the NHL schedule gives a struggling team a soft landing. But that’s not what’s happening for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. They head into Montreal on a seven-game slide (0-5-2) since the Winter Olympic break, and waiting for them is a Canadiens team that’s confident and motivated. Montreal is sitting in the Eastern Conference wild-card picture and only a point behind Detroit for third place in the Atlantic Division, which means they have something real to play for.
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For the Maple Leafs, Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning ended with the team being booed off the ice. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz acknowledged afterward that hearing the crowd turn hurts, but he also reminded everyone that there are still 18 games left to turn things around. The challenge tonight is that the Canadiens are trending in the opposite direction — upward. So, Toronto isn’t just facing a longtime rival; they’re facing a rival that believes it will win. And right now, belief is exactly what the Maple Leafs seem to be searching for.
Item One: Berube Unveils a Youthful “Kid Line” for Canadiens Matchup
When things aren’t working, sometimes a coach decides it’s time to shake things up. Head coach Craig Berube appears ready to do exactly that. For tonight’s game against the Canadiens, Berube has assembled a youthful line featuring Easton Cowan, Jacob Quillan, and Nicholas Robertson. Call it a “kid line,” call it an experiment, or maybe just call it a coach looking for a spark.
Berube explained that the combination came together partly because of how the rest of the lineup fell into place. But he also suggested Cowan could see plenty of ice if things are going well. The young winger is expected to get power-play time as well, which tells you the coaching staff wants to see what he can do in situations that matter.
There’s also a bit of familiarity within the trio. Earlier in the season, Robertson and Cowan showed some good chemistry playing alongside Nicolas Roy. The two of them were dangerous for stretches, using Robertson’s shot and Cowan’s quickness to generate chances. Berube said he liked what he saw from them again in practice.
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If that connection shows up in a real game, the Maple Leafs could have a line that brings some badly needed energy. At the very least, it should be fun to watch three young players get a meaningful opportunity in a rivalry game at the Bell Centre.
Item Two: Maple Leafs Recall Benoit-Olivier Groulx
The Maple Leafs also made a roster move Tuesday, recalling forward Benoit-Olivier Groulx from the American Hockey League (AHL) Toronto Marlies. Groulx, 26, signed a one-year contract with Toronto last offseason and has spent most of this year putting together an impressive season in the AHL. In fact, he’s been the Marlies’ most productive player, piling up 27 goals and 50 points in 54 games.
While Quillan has grabbed some attention with a few call-ups already this season, Groulx has actually been the steady offensive driver for the Marlies. Night after night, he’s been the one putting the puck in the net and keeping Toronto’s farm club competitive. For Groulx, this recall could represent another important chance.
Originally a second-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he’s appeared in 65 NHL games over parts of three seasons but never quite managed to grab a regular role. His NHL stat line—one goal and five points—doesn’t tell the full story of his effort, but it does explain why he’s spent most of his career bouncing between leagues.
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Still, hockey careers can turn quickly. A strong stretch of games can change the way a player is viewed. With roster spots opening and the Leafs searching for energy, this could be Groulx’s moment to remind everyone that he still belongs in the NHL conversation.
Item Three: Is Pressure Beginning to Build Around the Maple Leafs?
When a team loses seven-straight games, the conversation inevitably changes. At first, people ask what went wrong. Then, after a few more losses, they start asking who’s responsible. That familiar cloud is beginning to hover around the Maple Leafs again. Fans have watched this team long enough to recognize the pattern: a roster loaded with talent that can look unstoppable for stretches, then suddenly fragile when adversity arrives.
The most obvious storyline right now is Auston Matthews’ goal drought. The Maple Leafs’ captain still leads the team with 26 goals, but he hasn’t lit the lamp in 11 games. Matthews is still generating chances and driving play, but when the puck refuses to go in, the entire offence feels the weight of it. In a market like Toronto, patience evaporates quickly when the goals disappear.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
Reading through fans’ comments, you get the sense the buzzards are already circling around Matthews. If the Maple Leafs can’t snap this losing streak soon, the conversation around the team could shift in a hurry—if it hasn’t already. Instead of debating playoff positioning or line combinations, people have begun to ask a harder question.
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Is this team built well enough to handle adversity when it arrives? Already, it seems most onlookers—fans or former fans—believe the answer is obvious.
