Leafs Crumble vs Sens, Berube Under Pressure

0:00You're listening to NHL News Today. Subscribe now for fast, daily updates on your team. The Toronto Maple Leafs started strong against the Ottawa Senators, but crumbled fast in a 5-2 loss. Morgan Riley scored just under three minutes in, but Ottawa fired off the next 19 shots and took a three-nothing lead by the end of the first, period. Joseph Wool faced heavy pressure and got pulled after allowing four goals on 28 shots, with Anthony Stolar shutting the door in relief. William Nylander provided a brief spark, scoring to make it three-two early in the second. It snapped his scoring drought since returning from the Olympics, where he's now got three points in three games. Still, his efforts couldn't lift the team, as Drake Bay this and Endill and Cozons quickly restored Ottawa's lead. Fans and analysts are pointing to Toronto's struggles in the slot, where opponents dominate the middle of the ice. The Leafs lost key battles, got stuck on the perimeter and left their goalie exposed. Coach Craig Baroube shuffled lines and pairings, but nothing clicked,

1:02feeling talk of deeper issues like slow play and poor neutral zone passes. The loss has intensified pressure on Baroube, with the team looking disjointed in low on energy. It echoes past slumps, like the one that caused Mike Babcock his job in November 2019 after a lifeless defeat. Players seem tuned out from the system, which doesn't fit this older, slower roster. Looking ahead, Toronto hosts the Philadelphia Flyers next, and another poor start could force changes. The front-office space is tough calls on coaching, roster holes, and shaking off this slide before it's too late. This episode is supported by our sponsor. When you want calm, do not reach for your phone, lay back and listen, S-O-L-L-I-SoliPillow.com