The Toronto Maple Leafs are stumbling toward the finish line as they enter the final stretch of the season. What started with high expectations has spiraled into a chance at the draft lottery, and with only 12 games left on the schedule. Everyone in Leafs Nation is hoping and praying for as many losses as they can get.
Here is the latest news and updates around the Maple Leafs and their schedule for the week of March 23-31, 2026.
Injury Bug Bites, Again
If the Matthews news wasn’t enough, Saturday night in Ottawa provided another bizarre hurdle. Anthony Stolarz was slated to start against the Ottawa Senators but had to leave the ice during warmups after taking a puck to the throat area off a shot from William Nylander.
Stolarz was taken to a local hospital for precautionary imaging and was released later that night to join the team for the flight home. However, it forced Joseph Woll to start on back-to-back nights after a heavy workload on Friday. With Stolarz’s status for the upcoming week uncertain, the team might need to lean on Woll for the bulk of the remaining games. However, it also means that Dennis Hildeby could get called back up to the NHL, again.
The Tank is on in Toronto
With 12 games remaining, the “race for a top five pick” is officially on. In most cases, it would be the “race for Gavin McKenna,” however, before Leafs Nation worries about that, they have to secure their first round pick. The Maple Leafs are currently sitting 13 points out of a playoff spot and are firmly entrenched in the bottom tier of the league, just four points ahead of the St. Louis Blues for 28th in the NHL.
Related: Auston Matthews Linked to Wild in Potential Offseason Blockbuster
The first-round pick traded to the Boston Bruins in the Brandon Carlo deal is top-five protected, meaning if the Maple Leafs finish in the bottom five of the lottery, they keep the pick. Following the 5-2 loss to the Senators where they were outshot 40-14, those lottery odds continue to climb. The goal for the final three weeks is clear: keep that pick. It is a grim reality, but securing a top-five selection is the only way to salvage what has been a disastrous 2025-26 season.
Maple Leafs’ Upcoming Schedule
Here’s a look at the Maple Leafs’ upcoming schedule for the week of March 23-31, 2026:
- Tuesday, March 24 vs Boston Bruins @ 7:00 pm ET
- Wednesday, March 25 vs New York Rangers @ 7:30 pm ET
- Saturday, March 28 vs St. Louis Blues @ 7:00 pm ET
