We’re now 17 games into the season but this was firmly the worst performance the Toronto Maple Leafs have submitted under Craig Berube’s watch, stumbling to a 3-0 defeat against the Ottawa Senators.

Josh Norris scored 41 seconds into the contest, Tim Stutzle and Michael Amadio added insurance goals for the Senators, while the Maple Leafs’ offence, particularly at 5-on-5, completely dried up. Toronto allowed a season-worst 40 shots on goal, and were blanked for the second time this season.

“We just got really away from our game,” Maple Leafs forward John Tavares said post-game. “I think they clearly had some legs early, our legs weren’t great. We didn’t manage the game very well, kind of stick with it. We just got away from what was bringing us success. Disjointed, we weren’t really able to build any momentum throughout the night.”

Anthony Stolarz receives the lone passing grade in this space. Here are three takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 3-0 loss to the Senators.

Anthony Stolarz receives the lone passing grade tonight for the Maple Leafs, as this result could’ve certainly looked uglier with Toronto’s goaltender making several saves to keep the score respectable. Stolarz allowed a goal 41 seconds into the game, after Josh Norris converted on a 3-on-2 opportunity, and he took fault for Michael Amadio’s goal in the second period.

“I mean, I guess we’re all human,” Stolarz said post-game. “At the end of the day, it’s an 82-game season. You’re not going to play a perfect 82 games, myself included. That third one is one I’m going to want back. A right-handed shot coming down with his stick out towards the boards. Just the momentum swing there, they get one and another one. I take credit on that one.”

It’s tough to assign real blame towards Stolarz, who was constantly facing odd-man rushes, and rush attempts directed at him. Stolarz has been one of the Maple Leafs’ breakout players of the year and could be in contention for the Vezina Trophy if he maintains his form throughout the season. He kept the Maple Leafs in a game they had no business winning, but ultimately, Stolarz couldn’t account for the offence drying up, and it’s likely we’ll see him back in goal against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday evening.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told reporters Tuesday morning that they couldn’t let the Senators get odd-man rushes and get out in transition. And through the opening shift, this message was either ignored, or not adhered to, or simply, the Senators beat the Maple Leafs at their own game. Norris opened the scoring as he was afforded too much space from Morgan Rielly and Max Domi, who hopped over for a line change and didn’t pick up the trailer. Bobby McMann and William Nylander fumbled the puck trying to enter the offensive zone and the Senators pounced.

“It was not a good game for us,” Berube said post-game. “There wasn’t much good to talk about in the game overall. We got out-skated. They wanted it more than us. That’s the bottom line.”

Jake McCabe couldn’t corral the puck within the offensive zone, as the Maple Leafs trailed 2-0, and the result compounded, as Amadio took off and beat Stolarz cleanly for the insurance goal. Toronto looked to be a few steps behind Ottawa throughout the contest and couldn’t account for its speed, while fumbling the puck constantly, failing to make simple exits and entries. Ottawa was credited with four rush attempts in all situations via Natural Stat Trick, but you could’ve tripled this number and few would’ve opted for a second glance.

It was a baffling performance in many ways, considering how the Maple Leafs crushed their opponents to a 11-2 cumulative score last week. For the Maple Leafs, it was a tough way to end what’s been a stellar homestand, but they more than deserved the loss in this year’s initial instalment of the Battle of Ontario.

Provided that Auston Matthews doesn’t return to the lineup Wednesday, it looks like Alex Steeves could drawn in for his first start of the year. Connor Dewar made his season debut and finished with a seven percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5 — he didn’t pass the eye test either, and looked to be shaking off some rust. So who will come out of the lineup for Steeves, who was recalled on an emergency basis?

Nick Robertson has one goal throughout the season and the puck often died on his stick, but he also leads the team in drawn penalties. Pontus Holmberg is still looking for his first goal and hasn’t produced any offence whatsoever, but could stick in the lineup because he can be deployed on the penalty kill. David Kampf has been too valuable on the penalty kill to come out of the lineup, so will it be Ryan Reaves? Reaves, for what it’s worth, created some of Toronto’s best chances on Tuesday evening. But it would be a real surprise if Berube ran back the same lineup, goaltenders notwithstanding as Joseph Woll is expected to start Wednesday against the Washington Capitals.

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