Toronto’s Spectacular Losses

I can’t quite put my finger on the Toronto Maple Leafs this year. It seems like every few weeks, the Leafs lose a hockey game in the most bizarre and spectacular way. Spectacular might be a strange choice of words to describe a Leafs loss, but given some of the ways the team has lost some of their games, I can’t think of a better description. “Out of this world sequences” works well too.

One thing I’ve grown tired of is how over the top everything about the Leafs has become. Whether its press conferences, ticket prices, Ron Wilson’s analogies, or how they find ways to lose hockey games, it’s always over the top – another reason the word spectacular works.

Each Leafs loss can usually be traced back to an incident that seems almost fictional (some nights more than others). I’m not talking about a bad on-ice decision that leads to a 2-on-1 either. No other team in the NHL comes remotely close to the ways Toronto has lost hockey games this year. While I can’t list every game or loss with a strange occurrence, here are a few examples. I’m sure there are loads more. By all means, add your own below.

Jan 21 – Lightning- 3, Leafs- 2 (OT)
The Leafs take a too many men penalty in overtime, surrendering a third 4-on-3 powerplay within the final 10 minutes of the hockey game. Of course, the first 4-on-3 lead to the game tying goal, while the third 4-on-3 resulted in the Lightning’s game winning goal.

Jan 9 – Penguins- 4, Leafs- 1
In a 1-1 game, the Leafs thought they had a penalty shot opportunity when  it turned out Sergei Gonchar’s point shot moments before was a goal. The Leafs penalty shot was revoked and Gonchar’s goal was the game winner.

Dec 18 – Sabres- 5, Leafs- 2
In a 2-2 game, Tony Lydman flipped a puck towards the net on a line change. Vesa Toskala failed to catch the puck and essentially dropped it in his own net. Lydman’s goal was the game winner.

Nov 14 – Blackhawks- 3, Leafs- 2
A controversial goal review was unable to conclusively prove the puck crossed the goal line, despite the puck being stuck in goalie Cristobal Huet’s glove (which was clearly behind the goal line). The Leafs lost this game by one goal.

Oct 13 – Avalanche- 4, Leafs- 1
Darcy Tucker made the score 3-1 when he basically kicked the puck over the goal line (the goal obviously counted after video replay) and John Michael Liles put the game away when a weak floater shot bounced off Mike Komisarek’s head and into the net.

Oct 6 – Senators- 2, Leafs- 1
Ottawa’s first goal was batted out of mid air and very close to being high sticking (for the record, I believe it should not have counted), however, was determined to be a good goal. The second goal came from a questionable penalty shot call that saw Daniel Alfredsson shoot for the injured Milan Michalek. Of course, Alfredsson’s goal was the game winner.

You almost have to feel for the Leafs at times. I said almost. But at some point, it stops becoming a coincidence. You can only fault karma so much before reaching the conclusion that it’s something the Leafs are doing (or not doing). Some might call it a conspiracy and some might call it not working hard enough, but whatever the explanation, some of these tough luck bounces are spectacular. Just like everything else the Leafs do.

Stay classy, Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Burgundy is the chief editor for Stayclassy.net. Follow him on Twitter (@Stay_Classy) or email him.