It was more of the same for the inconsistent Maple Leafs as their road trip continued this past weekend.
They blew a 2-0 lead on Friday night in Washington, before ultimately, falling 4-2. That said, they rebounded very nicely on Saturday night in Pittsburgh with an impressive 7-2 beatdown of the Penguins.
Incredibly, they’ve now hit the 25-game mark, which means, they have 57 games left on their slate. They’re currently four points out of a playoff spot.
That’s where the conversation essentially started on the Monday edition of Leafs Morning Take as David Pagnotta once again filled in for Jay Rosehill. Despite all the turbulence, somehow, some way, the Leafs are still within striking distance of a playoff spot.
All in all, we spent a good chunk of the episode breaking down the roller-coaster weekend. After a strong start in Washington, the wheels came off, even Joseph Woll certainly did his best to keep his team in the game. Having said all that, the Leafs bounced back nicely in Pittsburgh with one of their better efforts of the season. It was great to see the McMann-Roy-Joshua trio find some chemistry. Furthermore, Max Domi tallied two helpers in his return from being a healthy scratch. Dennis Hildeby was awesome in that game, too. Auston Matthews got on the board, so did Easton Cowan. There was a lot to like about the Penguins game. And, how about Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who extended his point streak to nine games. He’s been outstanding lately.
After that, Sportsnet’s Anna Dua joined Nick Alberga and David Pagnotta stopped by the show. She shared her thoughts on the weekend, highlighting the steady play of both goalies. Dua also offered her overall read on the Leafs, saying she remains optimistic that the group can find its rhythm despite the inconsistencies.
She weighed in on OEL’s hot play and the impact he’s had this season, as well as where she believes Easton Cowan fits best in the lineup. Looking ahead, Dua previewed Tuesday night’s matchup in Sunrise — Toronto’s first meeting with the Panthers since last spring’s lopsided Game 7 — and discussed what she expects from the Leafs in their return to Florida.
Speaking of which, Jay Rosehill will be back in the mix for the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Join us at 11 AM ET for a full preview of Leafs/Panthers. Big one!
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