Leafs Suffer Devastating 5-2 Loss to Canadiens Amid Injuries

UPDATE: The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a crushing 5-2 defeat against the Montreal Canadiens on November 23, 2025, marking their seventh loss in eight games. Head Coach Craig Berube expressed frustration over his team’s lack of urgency, indicating that this disappointing performance is inexcusable for a squad with playoff aspirations.

The Leafs began the game strong, controlling the early play with the first six shots. However, they quickly fell apart after the Canadiens capitalized on two rapid opportunities, leading to a dismal second period where they failed to register a single shot for over ten minutes. Berube lamented, “We’re down 2-0, but I just don’t understand why we can’t go out in the second period to dictate how we’re going to play the period.”

The Leafs currently hold a troubling minus-11 goal differential in second periods this season, a statistic that has raised alarms among fans and analysts alike. “We just weren’t able to kind of get things going in the second period until really late, and put us in a big hole,” said John Tavares, reflecting on the team’s struggles.

Injuries continue to plague the Leafs, with Jake McCabe exiting the game after taking a puck to the face, adding to a lengthy injury list that includes key players like Auston Matthews and Anthony Stolarz. Berube noted that McCabe’s injury was “bad enough he couldn’t come back to play,” further complicating the team’s chances moving forward.

On a brighter note for the Canadiens, Noah Dobson and Josh Anderson each scored twice, helping to snap a five-game losing streak and bolster momentum ahead of an upcoming three-game road trip. Dobson’s second goal came at 4:09 of the second period, extending the Canadiens’ lead to 4-0, prompting Berube to pull goalie Joseph Woll. Despite conceding four goals on 25 shots, Berube praised Woll’s overall performance, emphasizing the need for the team to step up collectively.

The match also marked an emotional moment for the Xhekaj family, as Florian Xhekaj made his NHL debut alongside his brother, defenceman Arber Xhekaj. The younger Xhekaj made his presence felt immediately, delivering a significant hit and later engaging in a fight that energized the Bell Centre crowd. “Not many guys can say they played their first NHL game at the Bell Centre against the Leafs, and then to have my brother here with me, it’s truly special,” Florian said.

As the Leafs struggle to find their footing, they sit second-last in the Eastern Conference, now just four points away from a playoff position. William Nylander noted that the current challenges could ultimately strengthen the team, stating, “It’s tough right now. But in the end I think it’ll be good for our group.”

With the season rapidly approaching a critical juncture, all eyes will be on the Leafs as they look to rebound from this latest setback. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this veteran team responds in their next matchup.