Beyond The Score: Maple Leafs vs. Predators — Building Their Foundation (Game 4)

The Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Nashville Predators game might not have stood out as a must-watch on the calendar — being just the fourth game of the season, . But for the Leafs, it felt crucial. Coming off back-to-back losses to Detroit — despite dominating in the second matchup — and facing last season’s 32nd-ranked team at home, this was a game where momentum truly mattered.

Fortunately, the Leafs delivered. They built on the progress shown in Detroit, where they first started to look like themselves again. From the opening puck drop, Toronto controlled the pace, owned possession, and dictated the game — something that had been missing in their early-season performances.

Depth scoring once again stole the spotlight, this time from defensemen Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. That kind of offensive support from the blue line has quietly become one of the Leafs’ biggest strengths so far, a sign that this group may be more complete than people realize.

When Nashville clawed back with two quick goals in the second period to tie it 2–2, the Leafs didn’t flinch. They responded with poise — goals from John Tavares and Bobby McMann restored control, and the Leafs carried that confidence through the final frame to close out a 7–4 win.

The most encouraging takeaway from the last two games? The Maple Leafs are starting to build their foundation. This team is learning how to play its own brand of hockey — confident, structured, and true to who they are — instead of just reacting to their opponents. It’s early, but for the first time this season, the Leafs look like a team building toward something real.