The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Washington Capitals on Friday, November 28, 2025, continuing their struggles to secure regulation wins. Despite building an early lead, the Leafs couldn't hold on, highlighting ongoing issues with closing out games and defensive lapses. Here are three key takeaways from the game:
1. Inability to Protect Leads
The Maple Leafs have struggled mightily this season when playing with a lead. They have a league-worst .333 winning percentage when scoring first, losing five times in regulation and once in overtime after taking the initial lead. In this game, Toronto jumped to a 2-0 advantage courtesy of goals from Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies. Rielly's goal marked the first time in six games that the Leafs scored first. However, they couldn't maintain the momentum. Connor McMichael cut the lead in the second period, foreshadowing yet another third-period collapse for Toronto. The team seemed to veer away from the little things that had initially stymied Washington's offense, ultimately paying the price.
2. Goaltending Woes and Defensive Lapses
Joseph Woll delivered another strong performance in goal, stopping 30 of 33 shots. However, his efforts were ultimately in vain due to defensive breakdowns. The Leafs' defensive zone coverage was lacking, particularly on cross-seam passes. Alex Ovechkin exploited this, delivering a cross-seam pass to Anthony Beauvillier for the game-tying goal. A series of errors, including Morgan Rielly not closing the back door and John Tavares overcommitting, contributed to the defensive breakdown. Jakob Chychrun's game-winning goal further exemplified the Leafs' passive defending.
3. Offensive Contributions and Missed Opportunities
Despite the loss, there were some positive offensive contributions for the Maple Leafs. Morgan Rielly opened the scoring with his first goal of the game, and Matthew Knies added another, his страхование goal assisted by Auston Matthews. Matthews' assist gave him his 742nd career point, moving him up in the franchise rankings. However, the Leafs also missed key opportunities to extend their lead. John Tavares was stopped on a breakaway, and Knies was robbed by a great glove save from Capitals goalie Logan Thompson. Scott Laughton also had two chances alone. The Maple Leafs ended the game with 22 shots on goal, with Tavares, Matthews, Knies, and Bobby McMann accounting for over half of them.
The Maple Leafs now have a 2-7-0 record on the road this season. They will continue their six-game road trip against Pittsburgh. To turn things around, the team needs to address its defensive vulnerabilities and find a way to protect leads.
