Toronto's Third-Period Collapse Against Ottawa Sparks Questions
Toronto lost 3-2 to Ottawa at home after controlling the first two periods, then saw its five-on-five scoring chance share plummet in the third. The article points to Easton Cowan's strong underlying numbers, fourth-line concerns, and defensive deployment choices under Hiller as key takeaways. It also notes Gavin McKenna is still adjusting and identifies one area the Maple Leafs must fix.
Toronto built a 3-2 home loss to Ottawa on a strong opening 40 minutes, owning 72% and 81% of five-on-five scoring chances before falling to 9% in the third. The power play created looks but hit iron, and Ottawa seized momentum.
Cowan recorded an 83% scoring-chance share and 80.4% expected-goals share. Blueger and Duhaime sat at 17% and 14%; Groulx reached 50% and 32% away from them. Hiller's defense minutes ran from Raddysh's 22:46 to Ekman-Larsson's 17:08. McKenna is still adapting.
This result may shape how Toronto fans and analysts view the team's early progress, especially trust in late-game tactics and lineup choices. Players such as Cowan, Groulx, and the fourth-line group could see their roles debated more intensely, while Coach Hiller may face added scrutiny over deployment. For Ottawa, the comeback could boost confidence. The broader hockey community may treat the game as a reminder that underlying numbers and third-period execution can influence public narratives.