The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a 2-1 overtime defeat against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, January 21st. The loss, despite a strong performance from goalie Joseph Woll, highlighted several key areas of concern and a few bright spots for the Leafs. Here are three takeaways from the game:
1. Goaltending Duel and Woll's Standout Performance
The game quickly evolved into a goaltending battle between Toronto's Joseph Woll and Detroit's John Gibson. Woll, in particular, delivered a strong performance, stopping 39 of the 41 shots he faced. He demonstrated resilience after a couple of difficult outings, making key saves on Detroit's power play opportunities, including a huge stop on Alex DeBrincat in the fourth period. Despite his efforts, Woll was ultimately beaten by Dylan Larkin's overtime winner. Woll's performance is especially noteworthy considering Curtis Sanford, the goalie coach, has been working to get him back in shape after a month away for personal reasons and Anthony Stolarz's injury.
2. Offensive Struggles and Missed Opportunities
The Maple Leafs' offense struggled to solve John Gibson, with only Scott Laughton managing to find the back of the net. Laughton scored early in the first period, cleaning up a shot after Calle Jarnkrok fanned on the initial attempt. However, the team failed to capitalize on several other scoring chances. A key missed opportunity came when Laughton was awarded a penalty shot late in the second period after being harassed on a breakaway, but he failed to convert. Auston Matthews, who entered the game with an NHL-best 10 goals since the start of 2026, was held off the scoresheet, ending his three-game point streak. The absence of William Nylander due to a groin injury further hampered the Leafs' offensive capabilities.
3. Defensive Challenges and Key Player Absence
The Maple Leafs faced defensive challenges throughout the game, which were compounded by Oliver Ekman-Larsson's early exit due to a lower-body injury. Ekman-Larsson was knocked to the ice in the first period, forcing the Leafs to play with five defensemen for most of the night. Brandon Carlo noted the team tried to compensate with short shifts and help from the forwards. The team is already missing Chris Tanev, who is contemplating season-ending groin surgery. Furthermore, Easton Cowan, while showing promise in recent games, had a tough moment when he was outmuscled by Moritz Seider, leading to Larkin's winning goal.
The Red Wings completed a season-series sweep of the Maple Leafs with this win. The Maple Leafs now have a record of 24-17-9 and have gone 1-2-2 in their last five games. The Red Wings have improved to 31-16-4 and are 7-1-0 in their last eight games.
