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5 takeaways from Leafs-Blackhawks: Woll’s solid season debut overshadowed by 3rd-period collapse
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Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Arun Srinivasan
Nov 16, 2025, 06:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 16, 2025, 08:59 EST
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Christmas isn’t necessarily around the corner but patience is beginning to grow thin, as the Toronto Maple Leafs surrendered another third-period lead, in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The process was better for most of the game, but the stark reality should settle in: through 19 games, the Maple Leafs have 18 points, with only the perpetually rebuilding Buffalo Sabres trailing in the Eastern Conference.
Joseph Woll was solid in his season debut, recording 29 saves. Woll did what was asked of him, but the Maple Leafs still collapsed down the stretch, as the losing streak extends to five games.
And perhaps more worrisome than the tangible results, the Maple Leafs may be losing any swagger altogether.
“Right now, we’re just a little bit unconfident,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game via David Alter of The Hockey News. “Gotta get through that because we had an opportunity to close this game out and win it.
“I got to motivate them the best way I can. Maybe it’s a kick in the ass, but maybe it’s positive reinforcement too”
Outside of the Maple Leafs’ room, few will be yearning for positive reinforcement, as the team is performing well below the sum of their parts, especially on the defensive end.
Here are five takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 loss to the Blackhawks

Joseph Woll submits stellar season debut, but it’s not enough

Joseph Woll was solid in his season debut, and the loss can’t be pinned on the Leafs’ goaltender. Although the Maple Leafs maintained superior possession throughout the game, Woll was forced to make a number of excellent saves, and kept his team firmly in the contest, even after surrendering the lead during the third period.
“It’s a mix of probably every different emotion,” Woll said of his season debut post-game via TSN’s Mark Masters. “A little nervous. A little excited. But just being out there on that sheet was pretty cool.”
Woll thwarted Blackhawks defencemen Artyom Levshunov several times, as the 2024 second-overall pick used his speed and lateral playmaking ability to great effect throughout the night. Throughout the evening, Woll remained cool and collected, as the Blackhawks hounded unforced Maple Leafs turnovers throughout the night.
Woll made a terrific stop on Landon Slaggert in the third period, and worked his way well back into NHL form. The 27-year-old recorded 0.46 goals saved above expected in all situations via Natural Stat Trick, a small positive for a Maple Leafs that has received largely sub-par goaltending through 19 games.

Nick Robertson continues to make the most of top-six opportunities

Nick Robertson is playing the most consistent hockey of his career, and scored his fifth goal of the season, a result of an excellent two-man game in conjunction with John Tavares. Robertson established the zone, before Tavares circled the net, sweeping a wraparound attempt off Spencer Knight. With three Blackhawks defenders converging on Tavares, Robertson jammed home the rebound to tie the game at 1-1 in the final minute of the first frame.
Robertson’s chemistry with Tavares was evident throughout the night. The Leafs Nation’s Nick Richard summarized Robertson’s recent uptick in form well. Robertson signed a one-year contract, effectively betting on himself, and he’s clearly established himself as one of the Maple Leafs’ 12 best forwards. At this point, Robertson is an essential part of a Leafs team that is struggling in many facets of the game.
Robertson generated four shots and two hits, and he did a lot of good work that won’t show up in the scoresheet leading up to Morgan Rielly’s goal. The tenacious winger is a mainstay in a top-six role, as the Maple Leafs desperately need to find some certainties.
“We’re working hard. I don’t think the lost games as of late is defining us as a team,” Robertson said post-game. “I mean, we’re right there. It’s just kind of frustrating, but hopefully it ends soon.”

William Nylander held without a shot for 2nd consecutive game

It’s difficult to fathom, especially considering that he’s among the NHL’s scoring leaders, but William Nylander went without a shot for the second consecutive game. Robertson and Tavares drove their line, while Nylander was content to roam around in open space, but didn’t contribute much else in the losing effort.
This is the frustrating part with Nylander. He was called out earlier in the year for a lack of production and responded with a terrific game against the Nashville Predators. By every objective measure, he’s one of the best offensive players in the NHL, a true superstar who isn’t fazed by poor outcomes in the regular season. And yet, two games without a shot simply isn’t good enough, for a player that has to take on an even greater share of the offence with Auston Matthews out of the lineup.
Expect a return to the shot parade for Nylander during Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Blues, especially with his linemates actively buzzing around the net.

Easton Cowan is clearly one of the Leafs’ 12 best forwards

Easton Cowan is clearly one of the Maple Leafs’ 12-best forwards, and ought to remain with the NHL team for the foreseeable future. Cowan was strong in his return to the lineup, and was unlucky to be held without a point.
The 20-year-old returned to Toronto’s top power play unit, and this is perhaps where his game tended to stall. Cowan missed a good chance during a second-period power play, but the team’s entries were poor overall, and the Maple Leafs need to continue to make tweaks.
At 5-on-5, Cowan was easily one of Toronto’s best players. Toronto outshot Chicago 7-3 with Cowan on the ice, with a 17-5 shot attempt differential, and a 78 percent share of the expected goals. It wasn’t a perfect return, as Cowan was called for slashing during the second period.
Breaking out of the box, Cowan hit the outside of the post on a breakaway, losing control at the last second. And he remained relentless, generating another dangerous chance against Spencer Knight in the third period.
There are things to clean up, as Cowan also took a delay of game penalty, but you’ll certainly live with rookie mistakes. The positives in Cowan’s game certainly outweigh the negatives.

Troy Stecher will have to replace Philippe Myers in the lineup

We don’t enjoy being negative in this space, but Philippe Myers is simply untenable at this point of the season. Myers submitted his worst game in what’s already been a trying season.
Myers was outmuscled by Frank Nazar off the rush, a result that simply cannot happen. Nazar is a 5-foot-10 skilled centre who isn’t known for their physicality, while the towering Myers is the lineup ostensibly due to his size. After winning the puck battle, Nazar immediately found a cutting Teuvo Teravainen, who beat Morgan Rielly with a nasty move to the net, on a highlight-reel, game-tying goal.
It would be completely unfair to pin the Maple Leafs’ league-worst defensive efforts on Myers alone. The fact of the matter is that Myers currently isn’t playing close to the standard demanded at the NHL level, and the Leafs were outshot 9-2 during his time at 5-on-5. You can hide a player’s mistakes in the stat charts at times, but a visceral mistake like the one he made against Nazar will always stand out.
Toronto claimed Troy Stecher off waivers on Saturday. Stecher is a mobile, puck-moving defenceman, who will offer a different skill set from the existing corps, and for the time being, represents an immediate upgrade on the struggling Myers, who stands out among a Maple Leafs team that has become the NHL’s most porous defensive unit.

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