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The defeat equalled the largest margin of defeat at Scotiabank Arena this season
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Published Jan 20, 2026 • 3 minute read
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Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs battles with Yakov Trenin #13 of the Minnesota Wild in the first period at Scotiabank Arena on January 19, 2026 in Toronto. Photo by Chris Tanouye /Getty Images North AmericaArticle content
Somewhere over the Manitoba-Ontario border flying back from their road trip, the Maple Leafs lost their way.
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“We had no pace,” alternate captain John Tavares said of Monday’s 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild. “When you don’t have it at times, when the game is just not coming in a rhythm, or when we feel we’re a little behind, we have to do a better job of keeping the puck out of our net.”
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The defeat, which equalled the largest margin of defeat at Scotiabank Arena this season, was a throwback to troubles earlier this season, but the Leafs hope it was one-and-done as they were starting five straight at home in the thick of a playoff push.
Our takeaways from a long night on Bay Street:
MIND FIELD
Defencemen drifting out of position on net-front coverage, botched breakouts or leaving large gaps for odd-man rushes were bad enough, but special teams’ failures and just 16 shots on goal through two periods had coach Craig Berube pointing at his brain when asked where things went south.
“It’s tough travel, getting home late from Winnipeg Saturday, but that’s where you have to manage it better,” Berube said. “We talked before the game, it was going to be a mental grind tonight. You have to be patient and do things smart. We didn’t and it cost us the game.”
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The Leafs would’ve had the Wild’s twin threats, Kirill Kaprisov and defenceman Quinn Hughes circled and they had four points. But that still left Marcus Foligno opportunity for a hat trick and Vladimir Tarasenko two goals and an assist. The 39 Wild shots meant little forechecking was on the agenda.
“We were flat, gave them the (2-0 and 4-1) lead and we were chasing,” winger Matthew Knies said. “Special teams weren’t there and they’re a team that takes advantage of those hiccups.”
Wild’s Vladimir Tarasenko scores against Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll at Scotiabank Arena Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. Photo by Chris Tanouye /Getty ImagesWOLL OF CONFUSION
Since his 31 saves a week ago when Toronto upset Colorado, Joseph Woll has given up 10 goals in five periods.
But nearing 100 National Hockey League games, he’s not going to beat himself up over it and looks forward to either playing in Wednesday’s divisional match against the Red Wings or another crack at Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.
Dennis Hildeby made nine saves in third-frame relief on Monday and Anthony Stolarz’s return is on the horizon, thus Woll knows he must pick himself up quickly.
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“The last couple of games aren’t the result I want, but I go back to the drawing board,” Woll said. “Tomorrow’s a new day, so flush it. I’d be naive to say my game is perfect and there’s nothing to learn. Sometimes you win and you learn, sometimes you lose and learn.”
On one tip by Foligno, the puck blooped over Woll, who wondered if it was total fluke or he’d not maintained proper depth in his crease.
But Woll and Hildeby have done more than their share to keep the Leafs in games until the offence found a groove around Christmas.
“I don’t think it was his night tonight, but that’s on the team as well,” Knies said. “We didn’t do a good job in front of him, a lot of the goals were deflected pucks, rebounds.”
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his third-period goal against the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Arena on January 19, 2026 in Toronto. Photo by Chris Tanouye /Getty Images North AmericaMATTHEWS PASSES SALMING
While all his Leaf records have become rather routine and it’s not a topic to embrace as he didn’t grow up in a Canadian market, Auston Matthews gave props to Borje Salming when he passed him in franchise points.
With a dramatic deke from a Max Domi stretch pass, Matthews beat Filip Gustavsson for a late goal and point No. 769, breaking the tie with Salming for fourth place he’d created earlier in the game with a power play assist.
Matthews has seen Salming’s banner hanging next to Mats Sundin’s after breaking the latter’s goal record of 420 last month and was there the night the Swedish pioneer defenceman made his last emotional appearance at Scotiabank Arena a few years ago.
“He’s a guy who did a lot for this organization, the city and the franchise and has a very rich history here, so it’s pretty cool. It’s tough to put that stuff in perspective when the game is going on, but I’m very honoured,” Matthews said.
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