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John Tavares says Maple Leafs have to look themselves in the mirror after third straight loss
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Jan 24, 2026, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 23, 2026, 22:55 EST
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The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped their third straight game, falling 6-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights, in what was the third game of their current five-game home stand. For the second time in three games, the Maple Leafs found themselves in an early first-period hole, which was ultimately too big a deficit to overcome. 
“We were slow to start, our pace wasn’t there and we put ourselves in a couple different holes,” Maple Leafs assistant captain John Tavares said following the game. “We really started to come on and get ourselves back into the game but we just weren’t able to maintain that level in the third to tie the game up.” 
After returning home from a road trip that saw the Maple Leafs go 2-1-1, including beating the first-place team in the National Hockey League, the Colorado Avalanche, the team just hasn’t been able to reach that level again. 
“We’ve come home here and we haven’t got the results we needed. We have to look in the mirror here and realize that coming off a pretty big road trip we haven’t been able to follow it up,” Tavares said. “We just haven’t been as good as we’ve needed to be coming back home.” 
The Maple Leafs find themselves with a record of 24-18-9, sitting outside the playoff picture after 51 games, three points back of the Boston Bruins, who currently hold the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot. 
“We just haven’t been at the same level. I think we understand where we’re at and the importance of every game, the need to execute, need to be sharp and battle through whatever challenges there might be,” Tavares said. “Whether you feel good, whether you don’t, we have to give ourselves the best possible chance to win hockey games.”
Anthony Stolarz returned to the crease on Friday night, playing in his first game since November 11, against Boston. Stolarz stopped 25-of-30 shots faced. 
“We were obviously thrilled that he’s come back, it was a long road,” Tavares said. “I know it was challenging for him, so we wish we just played a better game in front of him, especially to start.” 
Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann echoed the same sentiment as Tavares, a slow start that ultimately wound up being the difference in the game’s outcome. 
“They got a jump on us early, that’s something that we have to be ready for,” McMann said. “We let them get ahead early, it just starts with details, it makes the game easier when we’re all playing together.”
The Maple Leafs host the Avalanche on Sunday, with puck drop set for 1:30 p.m. EST at Scotiabank Arena. 

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