The Toronto Maple Leafs reached what many are calling rock bottom after a dismal 5-2 defeat against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The loss extends Toronto's troubling pattern of poor performance during the 2025-26 NHL season.
Complete Breakdown in Montreal
From the opening puck drop, the Maple Leafs displayed a concerning lack of structure and competitive spirit. The team appeared disorganized and unmotivated throughout the contest, resulting in one of their most disappointing showings of the season. With just one victory in their last eight games and a single road win in seven attempts, the Leafs' struggles have become systemic.
The situation became particularly dire when Montreal's Josh Anderson scored to make it 4-0 at 13:11 of the second period. At that point, the shot clock showed a staggering 16-1 advantage for the Canadiens in the period alone.
Defensive Collapse and Goaltending Ordeal
Toronto's defensive zone coverage was virtually nonexistent, leaving goaltender Joseph Woll exposed to constant pressure. Coach Craig Berube made the decision to pull Woll after the fourth goal, though the move was purely to give the overwhelmed netminder a respite rather than reflecting on his performance.
The first three Montreal goals all came from defencemen, with Noah Dobson scoring twice and Lane Hutson adding another. Hutson's opening goal at 12:11 of the first period stood despite Brendan Gallagher making contact with Woll, as Berube opted not to challenge the play.
Dobson's first goal came just over two minutes later when Morgan Rielly failed to clear Oliver Kapanen from the crease area. His second marker early in the second period highlighted Toronto's continued defensive confusion in front of their own net.
Injury Concerns and Road Ahead
The Leafs' troubles were compounded when defenceman Jake McCabe left the game after being struck in the face by a puck during the second period. The team described it only as an upper-body injury, adding to Toronto's already significant injury list.
Toronto now sits just one point above the last-place Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference standings. The team will return home for brief practices before embarking on a challenging five-game road trip beginning Wednesday in Columbus.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and William Nylander managed to score consolation goals for Toronto, while Anderson added an empty-net marker to complete Montreal's victory. The Canadiens, who had won just once in their previous eight games, thoroughly outplayed their historic rivals in every aspect of the game.
