The Leafs lost a heartbreaker that they probably deserved to win tonight, falling to the Arizona Coyotes. Their winning streak comes to an end after six games.

The Leafs did not get off to the best start. The first period started off with the Leafs hemmed in their own zone for extended stretches. Eventually, Connor Carrick would go to the box.

Brandon Perlini would score on the ensuing Power Play, putting Arizona up 1-0 after outshooting the Leafs 10-1 early on. Not a good look.

Afterwards, the Leafs seemed to bounce back, with Nazem Kadri drawing a timely penalty late in the first that would prove important to the Leafs gaining some ground.

As mentioned, Nazem Kadri’s drawn penalty got the Leafs back into the game. Early in the second period, Kadri would tip a shot from the point to James van Riemsdyk in front of the net. JVR would continue his dominant stretch on the Power Play, notching a goal to knot things up at 1-1.

Later in the period, Nik Hjalmersson would go awkwardly into the boards in just his first game back from an upper-body injury and would leave the game. A tough break for Arizona.

Eventually, Arizona would answer back as well. With Mitch Marner in the box, future Leaf Oliver Ekman-Larsson would notch his first in 8 games to put the bad guys back on top 2-1. That’s how the second period would end.

Things would get a little more frustrating down the stretch. One goal down, the Leafs seemed unable to break out and generate much offense, resulting in Mike Babcock reverting to his pairing of Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, dropping Nylander from the top line. At first, the experiment seemed to pay off once again, as Auston Matthews, with a beautiful solo effort in his 100th NHL game, puts the puck past Antti Raanta to seemingly tie things at 2.

However, an ensuing challenge by the Coyotes would result in the goal being overturned, with Zach Hyman’s stick pushing Antti Raanta into the net prior to the goal. The Leafs’ comeback effort was all for naught, and Arizona would add two empty-net goals to cruise to their 3rd straight win, 4-1 being the final score.

Of course, had to bring back this gem from Evan Presement from the offseason.

Facts from Dimitri..

Sorry, Steven.

And of course, some inspiration from our favourite facepainting friend Jason.

That’s all for tonight, folks. Excuse me while I scream internally.