Kapanen opens the scoring 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL
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3 takeaways from Leafs-Canadiens: An anemic 1st period leads to 8th consecutive loss
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Mar 11, 2026, 06:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 10, 2026, 22:57 EDT
MONTREAL — We’re effectively grading the Toronto Maple Leafs on a bell curve, and after losing 3-1 to the Montreal Canadiens, there’s a temptation to seek the positives. William Nylander may have told the travelling media contingent that it’s difficult to remain optimistic amid the prolonged losing, but considering that’s there nothing to play for, it’s still worth keeping cool, calm and collected.
It didn’t look that we’d arrive at this place of relative zen. During the first period, the Maple Leafs submitted an anemic effort which proved to be insurmountable. Toronto trailed 2-0 at the first intermission on goals from Oliver Kapanen and Philip Danult, while getting outshot 18-5. The team could barely get the puck over centre ice, before submitting a much better effort in the second period.
Easton Cowan was arguably Toronto’s most inspired player, and the 20-year-old rookie delivered a picturesque give-and-go over to Nylander for the Maple Leafs’ lone goal of the contest. Although the Maple Leafs tightened up their defensive structure during the final frame, Jake Evans added an empty-netter for the Canadiens with 27.5 seconds remaining, sealing the victory for the home side.
“I think it’s a lot of losses in a row now,” Nylander said post-game. “I think parts of all the games we’ve been playing, we’ve been playing snippets of good hockey. And that’s not how we want to play. We want to play a full game of good hockey. So until we trend closer to that, I think then it’ll be positive.”
Here are three takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ loss to the Canadiens:
An anemic 1st period proves to be insurmountable
This game was shaping up to be an embarrassment during the first period. Montreal controlled the pace of play from its blue line, with Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle and Mike Matheson controlling entries and placing the puck where the forwards could retrieve it easily on the forecheck. Toronto barely delivered any resistance at the net-front, as Montreal’s Oliver Kapanen converted on a nifty passing sequence from Alex Newhook and Ivan Demidov for the game’s opening goal.
Phillip Danault added an insurance goal for the Canadiens, as Guhle dumped the puck in, where it hit the boards awkwardly and ricocheted right in front of the Leafs’ net. Danault jumped on the puck opportunistically and made no mistake.
“I thought after the first period, we didn’t do a very good job in the first period, that’s for sure,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game. “They outskated us, they had the play in the first period. I thought we did a much better job in the second period. We just need more.”
Montreal controlled 80 percent of the expected goals at 5-on-5 during the first period, while out-chancing Toronto by a 32-9 margin. It was a terrible first period, but Berube made some in-game adjustments that at the very least, subdued the Canadiens’ complete control of the contest.
“It’s tough to say, but it’s hard to win in the league if you don’t get it. You don’t have to dominate a period, but you have to be in the game. You have to create, defend. Throughout this stretch, there’s been a lot of good hockey. But there’s that stretch of, whether it’s a period or a 10-minute stretch during that period, where teams score 2-3 goals on us. Right now, we can’t find the back of the net enough. When this is going on, we’ve got to keep the puck out of our net as much as possible, hopefully scoring. We need more guys to dig in and contribute.”
Bo Groulx improves as game goes on during his Maple Leafs debut
Bo Groulx made his Maple Leafs debut, after being called up from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Groulx leads the Marlies in scoring, while his pace and scoring touch could be assets for a Maple Leafs looking towards next season.
“Well, we want to see guys, right? We want to see what they’re all about and where they’re at in their game. He’s had a very good year down in the minors,” Berube said of Groulx prior to the Leafs’ optional morning skate.
“Very intelligent player. He’s a smart guy. Student of the game. And what surprised me is, he went down to the minors and had a very good offensive year.”
Groulx was originally slotted into the lineup as the Maple Leafs’ third line centre, on a line with Easton Cowan and Nick Robertson. Berube shuffled the lines during the second period, where Groulx was paired with Matias Maccelli and Robertson. Groulx improved as the game went on, making clever reads off of Robertson’s speed and tenacity. He was rewarded with further opportunities and killed penalties in the third period, alongside Jacob Quillan.
“I’m a defensive-minded guy and I’ve killed with Q before, with the Marlies. We have a lot of chemistry there, we did a good job, and we’re going to get better from now on,” Groulx said post-game.
“I was pretty impressed with a couple of plays he made and challenged defencemen, beat them, had a couple good scoring chances,” Berube said of Groulx post-game.
Groulx offered an honest assessment of his Leafs debut, noting the quicker pace in the NHL.
“I think it was a work in progress. As the game went on, I felt better and better. First period, I felt kind of behind on the play a bit, speed-wise and everything. Second period, was a bit better and by the third period, I had my legs under me, I had a lot of speed in the neutral zone, I started to make a bit more plays offensively. Added a couple of shots too. Playing with Robby and Maccelli helped a lot, too. Really offensive guys, they made it easier for me today.”
Youth movement served by Cowan, Groulx’s in-game promotions
Craig Berube may be reticent to play younger players, but it’s the quickest pathway for the Maple Leafs to get back into contention next season. Easton Cowan was active from the outset, and earned his promotion onto Toronto’s top line alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Cowan was slotted throughout the lineup, and when paired primarily with Nylander, the Maple Leafs controlled the shot attempts and pace of play.
A great pass by Cowboy and a better finish by Willy!!! 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL
“I was very happy with the young guys coming in, Q, Cowboy. They all played well tonight, for me. Coming into this rink, it can be a pretty hostile environment but I thought all three of them were very good tonight.”
Cowan drew penalties and wasn’t remotely intimidated by the Bell Centre crowd. Although he’s been one of the bright spots in a nightmare Maple Leafs season, he wasn’t pleased at all with the result.
“I thought our team had a really good second period and a really good third, too,” Cowan said post-game. “We had some looks but didn’t bury them tonight. Sucks. Sucks to lose.”
Couldn’t have said it better!
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