The Toronto Maple Leafs’ performance in a 4-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of their first-round series was enough to send the members of Leafs Nation into the throes of PTSD and looking for the nearest bridge.
The crowd at Scotiabank Arena was apprehensive to say the least to start the game, and grew more concerned after Thomas Chabot’s seeing-eye shot in the second period, but after the back-breaking short-handed goal by Dylan Cozens, there was a realization that the Leafs could actually do the unthinkable and blow a 3-0 lead to a team that they are better than.
The signs of impending doom are all over this series. The Leafs come close to a sweep with a four-minute power play in overtime, but John Tavares is unavailable because of a high hit from Artem Zub, and the man advantage is impotent. The power play, which was the main reason for Toronto’s building of a commanding lead in the series, has been shut out in their last six opportunities.
Toronto’s core group had the decided advantage in the first three games, scoring 22 points in the three straight wins, but consecutive losses, they have just five points, and in Tuesday’s defeat, the tandem of Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle each had a goal and two assists, while Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly were held scoreless and went a collective -16.
On Wednesday, before heading to Ottawa, Leafs head coach Craig Berube did his best to deflect the focus on the Leafs’ core group, saying that it is not just on that group.
“It’s on everybody; the team.” Berube said. “That’s all I hear around here. Core, core, core. The Core Four. But it’s on everybody as a team, not just the four guys.”
Whether that message provides any consolation or alleviates the pressure off of that group is unknown, but right now, everyone is looking to them to provide that one play or shot on goal that will make the difference and allow the Leafs to move on. If there was any pressure on Ottawa, that has swung dramatically in Toronto’s direction for Game 6 on Thursday.
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