It’s getting harder to call this “just a slow start.”
The Maple Leafs dropped their third straight game, falling 5–3 to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night — a game that felt like another mirror of everything that’s gone wrong so far this season. There were flashes of effort, moments of pushback, and a few glimpses of what this team can be, but in the end, it wasn’t enough. Once again, the Leafs were chasing, reacting, and watching another team dictate pace.
Early Response, Same Story
Toronto actually answered back when it mattered early. After Mattias Samuelsson opened the scoring for Buffalo, William Nylander responded just 23 seconds later — a quick breakaway finish that tied the game and, for a brief moment, hinted at some of the urgency fans have been waiting for.
But that spark didn’t last. Buffalo regained control almost immediately, with Jiri Kulich finishing a slick passing play to make it 2–1. Auston Matthews’ power-play goal — a low-circle one-timer — tied things again late in the first, but the Leafs never built on it.
The second period was the difference. Buffalo’s top players — Thompson, Dahlin, Samuelsson — were faster, hungrier, and more cohesive. Two more Sabres goals in the middle frame made it 4–2, and by that point, Toronto was fighting uphill once again.
Flashes of Fight — and Frustration
Dakota Joshua gave the Leafs life early in the third, sliding one past Alex Lyon to make it 4–3, but the comeback ended there. A short-handed goal by Alex Tuch in the final minutes sealed it for Buffalo and left the Leafs staring at another “almost.”
What’s frustrating isn’t the lack of talent — it’s the inconsistency. Toronto competes in spurts, but those stretches never last long enough to shift momentum. Matthews talked postgame about “cleaning up the little mistakes,” but the truth is those mistakes are now habits — missed coverages, slow rotations, over-extended shifts, and defensive lapses that continue to cost them goals at key moments.
Nylander’s Injury Clouds the Picture
As if the loss wasn’t enough, William Nylander left the game late in the third with an undisclosed injury. Craig Berube said afterward that his status is uncertain for Saturday’s rematch in Toronto. If he’s out, the Leafs lose their most consistent forward — and the one player who’s been able to tilt the ice almost every night.
For a team already searching for an identity, losing Nylander, even short-term, could be devastating.
What This Says About the Leafs
Toronto has now lost three straight (0-2-1) and sits below .500 — not where anyone expected them to be. They’ve shown effort, yes, but effort without direction isn’t enough. The Sabres, a young and energetic team, looked more organized and more confident. That says something.
The Leafs have the skill, the leadership, and the experience. What they don’t have right now is rhythm. And rhythm only comes from trust — in systems, in teammates, in yourself.
They’ll get another shot at Buffalo tonight, this time on home ice. But moral victories and “good efforts” aren’t going to cut it anymore.
Final Thought
The Leafs keep saying they’ll “find their game.” The question is: when? Because right now, they’re watching other teams play theirs.