NHL scores 2017: Maple Leafs take two steps forward, one step back after split weekend

For one brief shining moment, the Maple Leafs were a playoff team. A 4-2 victory on Friday over the Devils had Toronto sitting in the third spot in the Atlantic, quite a jump from their last place finish just a season ago.

But of course, all good things come to an end. That brief stint as a playoff team lasted 24 hours, as a 5-3 divisional loss to the Canadiens on Saturday and a win by the Bruins bumped the Maple Leafs down to fourth.

It was a winnable game for Toronto, who put three goals past Carey Price which in and of itself is a pretty difficult feat. Unfortunately, unusually soft play by Frederik Andersen cost the Maple Leafs a few goals and eventually the game. Andersen, who’s really come into his own as Toronto’s starter, has had a weird start to January after putting up a .925 save percentage in the last month of 2016.

Head coach Mike Babcock opted to put Andersen back in net on the second game of a back-to-back, a decision which he later admitted was the wrong one after his starter allowed five goals on 31 shots.

Yet, there’s a lot that’s in Toronto’s favor. The Bruins may have jumped them, but the Maple Leafs have three games in hand and are only two points behind. Ottawa, the team in front of them, lost their fourth straight on Saturday and are tied in points with the Maple Leafs at 44.

With the Lightning and Panthers both struggling behind them, Toronto would sure love to pick up as many points as possible. Considering where they were just a season ago, however, it’s quite something that the Maple Leafs are making the Eastern Conference playoff race tighter than it already is.

Flyers 4, Lightning 2
Sabres 4, Jets 3
Kings 4, Wild 3 (OT)
Rangers 5, Blue Jackets 4
Bruins 4, Panthers 0
Canadiens 5, Maple Leafs 3
Capitals 1, Senators 0
Oilers 2, Devils 1 (OT)
Coyotes 2, Islanders 1 (SO)
Blues 4, Stars 3
Flames 3, Canucks 1
Sharks 6, Red Wings 3

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1. The heartbreaks continue for Columbus

Just a game removed from seeing their 16-game win streak evaporate in Washington, the Blue Jackets were likely ready to put their next foot forward on a really impressive season. For two thirds of their game Saturday, they were doing exactly that with a 4-2 lead heading into the third. That was until the Rangers scored three straight in the final 20 minutes, including the game-winner from Michael Grabner with 16.5 seconds left in the game.

To make matters worse, it was the first regulation loss for the Blue Jackets when leading after two periods. Heartbreaks abound.

2. Ottawa is sinking

We mentioned it above, but the Senators have now lost four in a row and are slowly sliding out of the top of the Atlantic after a 1-0 shutout loss to the Capitals. A big reason for that? Their offense has disappeared. During their losing streak, they’ve scored just six goals and remain one of the NHL’s bottom teams with a 2.39 goals-for percentage.

Their power play has also gone ice cold during this slide. If the woes continue, Ottawa might find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time.

3. The Taylor Hall, Adam Larsson reunion was a bust

It was one of the NHL’s biggest trades in the offseason, amplified by the dominoes that fell around it. Even so, the reunion of Taylor Hall and Adam Larsson was quite disappointing in the first meeting between their former clubs. The game was extremely lopsided in Edmonton’s favor, who eventually won in overtime. Neither Hall or Larsson were big players in the game, as the Cory Schneider stole the show for stopping 42 shots. Ah well, it was a nice narrative.

4. Vancouver’s win streak has come to an end

The Canucks win streak has ended at six games. Despite playing a strong game in Calgary, the Flames knocked off the Canucks in a 3-1 victory. If the Canucks had won the game? They’d be sitting in a playoff spot above the Kings and Flames. Considering where Vancouver’s season has gone this year with a win streak of four to begin the season followed by nine straight losses, it’s incredible that Vancouver climbed back the way they had.

There’s still no word on Patrik Laine’s status after the NHL’s leading rookie scorer was injured on this hit from Jake McCabe.

The collision sparked a huge line brawl between the Sabres and Jets.