The first game without Auston Matthews since news he re-aggravated his injury was not a pretty one for the Toronto Maple Leafs. William Nylander and Mitch Marner were a couple of the rares “goods” in a 6-3 loss that was rife with ugly.
The Ugly (Maple Leafs Poor Start)
There are some games where I have to dig deep to find something ugly, but this wasn’t one of those games. The Maple Leafs started off poorly, conceding two goals on the first three shots. Head Coach Craig Berube calling a timeout less than five minutes into the game? Ugly. Nick Robertson losing track of his man, resulting in a goal? Ugly. Joseph Woll, usually so reliable, letting in a soft goal? Ugly. Add to that the Islanders out-chancing Toronto six to one in high-danger scoring opportunities during the first period—it was a nightmare start. The Maple Leafs lost 6-3.
Typically, a team playing the second half of a back-to-back has the early edge against a more rested opponent, but the opposite happened here. The Islanders came out flying, while the Maple Leafs looked sluggish and overwhelmed.
Another ugly storyline is Auston Matthews’ lingering upper-body injury, which has persisted since training camp. Over three months into the season, it remains unresolved despite rest, treatment, and a specialist visit in Germany. If Matthews can’t recover soon, his availability for the playoffs—the stage where the Maple Leafs are ultimately judged—could be in jeopardy. The organization must prioritize Matthews’ long-term health, even if it means sitting him until the postseason.
The Good (William Nylander & Mitch Marner)
With Matthews out, William Nylander and Mitch Marner once again demonstrated their ability to carry the team offensively. Nylander was brilliant, scoring two goals that showcased his elite skill. His first—a backhand with the velocity of a wrist shot—left Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin stunned. His second, scored while falling after being tripped, was pure determination. These were Nylander’s 22nd and 23rd goals of the season, putting him one behind Leon Draisaitl in the Rocket Richard Trophy race. Nylander is now on pace for 55 goals and has moved into 10th place in franchise history with 566 points.
Marner, as usual, was dynamic. He made several impressive plays and earned his 35th assist of the season, setting up Bobby McMann’s goal. Marner’s current pace of 84 assists could place him in elite company, as only Doug Gilmour has surpassed 80 assists in a season for the Maple Leafs. Marner’s playmaking ability has kept the team competitive despite Matthews’ absence.
The Bad (Rookie George Scores Lucky Goal)
Despite their poor start, the Maple Leafs entered the third period trailing by just one goal. However, bad luck and mistakes cost them. Rookie defenseman Isaiah George’s goal, deflected off Chris Tanev’s knee, found its way through Woll’s legs to make it 4-2. Minutes later, Bobby McMann failed to tie up Noah Dobson’s stick, allowing a deflection that extended the Islanders’ lead to 5-2. McMann’s goal later pulled the Maple Leafs closer, but a Mathew Barzal empty-netter sealed the game.