Maple Leafs Drop Back-to-Back Games After Sloppy Loss to Blues

After a tough 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 24, the Toronto Maple Leafs have experienced consecutive defeats for the first time this season. Despite the motivation to rebound from a rough 6-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 22, and the return of goaltender Joseph Woll from injury, the Leafs struggled in another error-filled game.

Woll’s Return: A Mixed Performance

Returning from a groin injury that sidelined him for seven games, Woll faced a challenging season debut against his hometown team, the Blues. Although he made some strong saves, defensive lapses allowed two early goals, with the Leafs’ penalty killers caught out of position and leaving Woll exposed. After a promising second period that cut the Blues’ lead, additional mistakes allowed St. Louis to increase their lead, marking a tough start for Woll, who will share the crease with Anthony Stolarz moving forward.

Brief Defensive Spark, but Power Play Issues Persist

Toronto’s only goal came from a one-timer by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who played alongside Morgan Rielly on a new defensive pairing. However, containment issues continued to plague the Leafs’ defensive play, and they struggled against the Blues’ speed. On the power play, Toronto went 0-for-4, dropping their season record to 3-for-27—a troubling trend since last year’s playoff struggles.

Additional Game Notes

Max Pacioretty missed the game with a lower-body injury, while David Kampf returned to the lineup. Craig Berube, now coaching against the team that fired him, led the Blues to their first Stanley Cup in 2019.

Addressing Troubling Trends

As the Leafs prepare for an upcoming road trip against the Bruins and Jets, they’ll need to address creeping bad habits and improve their power play to regain momentum. A sharper focus on execution and defensive discipline will be essential in turning this rough patch into a temporary setback.