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Brandon Carlo, Boston Bruins (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

3 Takeaways From the Maple Leafs’ 7-4 Loss Against the Avalanche

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Spencer Lazary | Last updated Mar 9, 2025 8:45 AM ET

Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs faced the Colorado Avalanche in their first game since the NHL Trade Deadline. The Maple Leafs welcomed newly acquired Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton into their lineup, which had Leafs Nation excited to see them in action for the first time. After a few shifts, it was clear that this team needs a practice together to build chemistry and solidify line combinations. However, things went well for almost a full 60 minutes—until the Avalanche tied the game, took the lead, and sealed the win with two empty-net goals for a 7-4 victory over Toronto.

Although it turned into an ugly loss for the Maple Leafs, there are a few key takeaways worth discussing, let’s dive into it.

Carlo & Laughton Will Get Better With Practice

As mentioned, this game showed that the team needs a few practices to start functioning as a well-oiled machine. At times, Carlo looked a bit hesitant and unsure of his positioning, especially on Colorado’s second goal by Valeri Nichushkin, when he didn’t step up defensively and got caught standing in front of Anthony Stolarz. That said, the goal wasn’t entirely his fault—several mistakes led to the play, including Morgan Rielly being out of position and Laughton losing his battle along the half-wall.

Once Carlo has more time in Craig Berube’s system, he’ll know how to handle those situations more effectively. Similarly, Nathan MacKinnon’s power-play goal came after Laughton was beaten and skated past MacKinnon, allowing him to score. These are the types of mistakes that will be cleaned up with time and adjustments, including potential new line combinations. By the Maple Leafs’ next game on Monday, March 10, against the Utah Hockey Club, fans should start to see improvements as the nerves settle and chemistry builds.

Goaltending Looks Shaky as of Late

It’s likely just a rough patch, but the Maple Leafs’ goaltending has looked shaky in recent games. Joseph Woll had two tough outings—giving up five goals in an overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins and then being pulled after allowing three goals in the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights. Last night, Stolarz allowed five goals for the first time this season.

The hope is that the tandem of Woll and Stolarz can bounce back and that their recent struggles aren’t due to fatigue. Both goalies have been excellent this season, and while Stolarz appears to have the edge as the starter down the stretch, it’s crucial to maintain the tandem setup until the playoffs to manage workload and avoid injuries.

Maple Leafs Need Marner

By now, everyone in Leafs Nation—and around the NHL—has heard Elliotte Friedman’s report that the Maple Leafs asked Mitch Marner to waive his no-movement clause in a proposed trade with the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen. It was undoubtedly a stressful situation for Marner, but last night, he responded in the best way possible—by showing up and proving he still wants to be here and win a Stanley Cup in Toronto.

Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Marner was, without question, the best Maple Leaf on the ice. He scored two goals and logged 19:21 of ice time, doing everything he could alongside the rest of the core four to keep the team in the game. While they ultimately fell short, last night reinforced that the Maple Leafs need Marner for the foreseeable future. Yes, the playoff struggles are frustrating, but losing a player of his caliber would haunt the franchise for years to come.

What’s Next?

The Maple Leafs continue their road trip with a final stop to face the Utah Hockey Club on Monday, March 10, at 10:00 p.m. EST. Ending this trip will be a relief for some of Toronto’s stars, especially those who played in the 4 Nations Face-Off and have been away from home for nearly a month. Once they return, they’ll settle in for a four-game home stand—a much-needed stretch to regroup and build momentum for the final push toward the playoffs.