Maple Leafs sing the Blues after rough defeat in St. Louis

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Published Mar 28, 2026  •  2 minute read

Jordan Binnington #50 and Justin Holl #4 of the St. Louis Blues defend against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Enterprise Center on in St Louis on Saturday. Photo by Dilip Vishwanat /Getty Images

The Maple Leafs modest success this week gave way to late-season bloomers who have a true chance at making the playoffs.

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With hometown son Joseph Woll getting little support in goal, out-shot 36-13, the St. Louis Blues continued their spring push with Saturday’s 5-1 win as Toronto’s two-game win streak ended in Missouri.

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Jake McCabe’s early third-period goal, his second in as many games, had made it a one-goal game. However, three members of the Leafs power play were stalled below their own red line when Robert Thomas centred to Pius Suter in the slot. That shorty stunned the Leafs, who then gave up the clincher to Dylan Holloway a couple of minutes later and one late on the power play to Philip Broberg.

Woll somehow held off the relentless early forecheck of the Blues as Toronto blanked the opposition in consecutive first periods for the first time since early February.

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But they did nothing on a double minor drawn by Jacob Quillan until the last gasp when Calle Jarnkrok hit Jordan Binnington’s crossbar. Matias Maccelli later couldn’t deke Binnington on a break set up by a William Nylander takeaway.

Poor play from Rielly

It all came back to bite them in the second period, when Morgan Rielly’s poor defensive season continued. Not realizing how close a Blues’ player was behind him at the Toronto line, he lost a puck he was trying to field that turned into Jimmy Snuggerud’s 17th of the year.

Then came the kind of karma that has doomed the Leafs’ post-season chances. Justin Holl, seen as a weak link on the Leaf blue line in his final seasons, scored his first for his new team after service in Detroit, with a subtle deflection.

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The Blues, coach Craig Berube’s old team with which he won the 2019 Stanley Cup, are on a late-season roll of 10-1-2. While almost even in the overall standings with the Leafs, thanks to the weak Western Conference wild-card picture, they have improving chances to qualify.

While Quillan picked up his first NHL point on McCabe’s goal, it was the Leafs first game without forward Bo Groulx, their impressive late-season call-up from the Marlies. He had to be returned Friday after nine NHL games for at least one AHL start to maintain his minor league post-season eligibility and to be brought back by Toronto if it gets in an emergency roster situation.

The Leafs now get into the meat of this four-game road trip, three in California, starting Monday in Anaheim where the vilified, but injured Radko Gudas might or might not play for the Ducks.

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