The Toronto Maple Leafs’ problems in Montreal didn’t go away Tuesday night. In fact, they just got longer. The Canadiens skated to a 3–1 win at Bell Centre, handing the Maple Leafs their eighth-straight loss in that building and extending Toronto’s current slide to 0-6-2. Montreal jumped on the Maple Leafs early and never really let them settle into the game.
But here’s the funny thing about hockey. Sometimes, even in a loss, there are things worth noticing. Not perfect things. Not banner-raising stuff. Just the small bits of good news that remind you there are still some interesting players developing and some encouraging moments happening along the way. And Tuesday night had a few of those.
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The first period told most of the story. The Canadiens dominated puck possession and outshot Toronto 18-5, controlling play and forcing the Maple Leafs to chase. Oliver Kapanen opened the scoring when he spun away from coverage and slipped a shot between Joseph Woll’s pads. Later in the period, Phillip Danault beat Morgan Rielly to a loose puck in front and pushed Montreal’s lead to 2–0.
The Maple Leafs finally showed signs of life midway through the second period. Easton Cowan forced a turnover and worked a quick give-and-go with William Nylander, who finished the play into an open net to cut the deficit to one.
That was as close as Toronto got. Montreal kept generating the better chances and finished the night with a 33-18 edge in shots. Woll had to stay sharp just to keep things respectable, and Jake Evans sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final half-minute.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube summed it up afterward: the Maple Leafs simply couldn’t organize themselves well enough to move up the ice together. Too often, the puck died on their sticks before anything could develop. For a team trying to stop a skid, it was another frustrating night. Still, if you looked closely, there were a few things that stood out in a good way.
Item One: Woll’s Busy Night Shows the Good and the Bad
If the Maple Leafs had any chance in this game, Woll was a big reason why. Montreal spent long stretches in the Maple Leafs’ zone, especially early, and Woll was under pressure almost from the opening faceoff. Still, he looked calm in the crease. Even when the Canadiens were buzzing, Woll never seemed rattled. A few times, he flashed the glove in a way that made it look like the moment didn’t bother him at all.
By the end of the night, Woll had stopped 30 of 32 shots, and that number probably tells the story better than anything else. The Canadiens controlled much of the play, which meant Woll had to bail out his teammates more than once when coverage broke down.
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That said, the night wasn’t perfect. Both Montreal goals slipped between his pads — the kind of thing that will annoy any goalie and probably his goalie coach as well. Those details are usually fixable, though. Since the Winter Olympic break, Woll is 0-4-0, but the bigger picture is that he’s been facing a heavy workload most nights. Until the Maple Leafs spend more time in the offensive zone, their goalie will keep having evenings like this — encouraging in some ways, frustrating in others.
Item Two: Easton Cowan Looks at Home on the Top Line
One of the brighter moments for the Maple Leafs came from rookie Cowan, who spent time skating with the top line and didn’t look out of place at all. Cowan was noticeable most of the night; he played with confidence, got involved physically, and helped create Toronto’s only goal with a smart give-and-go with Nylander. After forcing a turnover, Cowan resisted the temptation to shoot and instead slipped the puck back to Nylander for a wide-open finish.
It was a small play, but a smart one. Those are the kinds of quick decisions good players make.
Cowan also showed some grit. He took a heavy hit during the game and kept coming. Late in the third period, he was knocked off the puck again before Montreal’s empty-net goal. It was the second time something like that had happened this season and a reminder he still needs to get stronger on his skates. But that will come as he grows into his body.
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The bigger takeaway was simple: Cowan looked comfortable playing with good players. And that’s a very good sign.
Item Three: Benoit-Olivier Groulx Impresses in Return
Another quiet surprise was Benoit-Olivier Groulx, who played his first NHL game since April of last season. Groulx didn’t record a point, but he looked like he belonged. He finished the night with two shots and six hits in just over 14 minutes, and more importantly, he played with purpose. When he had the puck, he pushed play forward instead of just dumping it away.
What stood out most came late in the game. With the Maple Leafs pressing to tie things up, Berube wasn’t afraid to send Groulx over the boards in some key moments. That’s a good sign for a player who had just been recalled earlier in the day.
Groulx has been productive in the American Hockey League with the Toronto Marlies, posting 27 goals and 23 assists in 54 games. If Tuesday night was any indication, he may have earned himself a longer look with the big club.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
If you’re looking strictly at the scoreboard, Tuesday night didn’t offer much encouragement. Another loss is another loss. But if you were watching the game closely, there were a few things worth liking.
Woll showed again that he can hold the fort when the team in front of him struggles. Cowan looked comfortable skating with top players and creating offence. Groulx brought some energy and physical play in his return to the lineup.
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Nothing changes the standings, and the season is still toast. But sometimes the interesting part of a game isn’t just who wins. Sometimes it’s watching young players take a step or seeing someone prove he might belong. And in that sense, Tuesday night in Montreal was still a pretty good hockey game to watch — even if the Maple Leafs didn’t win it.
