(UPDATE: The Maple Leafs announced on Wednesday that Muzzin will miss the next month with a broken hand.)
The Maple Leafs heard about it endlessly: they lost to David Ayers, their AHL Zamboni driver. Ayers received celebrity treatment, even appearing on “The Today Show,” while Maple Leafs fans gritted their teeth. (Then the Maple Leafs grimaced about Jake Muzzin.)
Tuesday set the stage for a trying situation following all of that. With desperation and overreactions in the air, Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas decided to stand pat during the trade deadline. If all of that wasn’t enough, Toronto traveled to Tampa Bay to face a Lightning team that might just be rounding back into shape as the scariest team in the NHL.
Yeah, it sure seemed like things were going to get uglier.
One thing that adds to the soap opera drama of the Maple Leafs is that they often surprise you, though. Instead of folding following that agonizing loss to Carolina, the Buds persevered, beating the Lightning 4-3 on the road.
Go-to scapegoat William Nylander continues to quietly have a strong season, and this goal was nicer than his summer hair was loud:
John Tavares ended up with two goals, while not-traded Tyson Barrie collected two assists. Auston Matthews set a new career-high with his 74th point of 2019-20.
“We did a lot of good things tonight, in terms of the way we want to play the game, to our identity,” Tavares said, via TSN’s Kristen Shilton. “Just staying with it and understanding that it’s not always pretty but just digging in, playing hard, playing as a group, sticking with it.”
Muzzin injury puts damper on Maple Leafs win
Pretty impressive all around, right?
John Tavares scored twice as the @MapleLeafs halted Tampa Bay's home win and home point streaks at 11 and 13 games (12-0-1), respectively. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/to8kpYilAz
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 26, 2020
Well, maybe ... but we’re talking about the Maple Leafs, here. It can never be totally easy.
While the Maple Leafs grabbed a highly valuable win, there was some troubling news. Recently extended defenseman Jake Muzzin left the game and didn’t return after blocking a shot. Sheldon Keefe couldn’t provide a detailed update about how long this might sideline Muzzin:
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe on Jake Muzzin's injury:
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 26, 2020
"We don't know. We'll have to see how it is tomorrow & go from there ... we'll give him the night & get more information tomorrow ... talk to doctors & see how it responds"
Leafs practice set for 12 pm Wednesday
Sounds ominous.
But, hey, the Maple Leafs won. They can carry something from that, even if the roller coaster readies more dramatic highs and lows.
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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.