First the news:

Moldenhauer, Lahey, and Malinowki all in the tournament.

Panthers’ Greer suspended three games for hit on Zary
Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer has been suspended three games for boarding on Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary during Friday’s game, it was announced Sunday evening.
TSNTSN.ca Staff
Maple Leafs’ Stolarz released from hospital after warm-up injury
Sportsnet.caSportsnet Staff

There is no game tonight as the Leafs get ready for a back-to-back mid-week.

Here's the thing. There is no winning formula here in the short term. There is no special combination of fourth liners or the right pre-game speech. There is no goalie performance grand enough, no emotional commitment strong enough. The Leafs can't will themselves to be winners, they can't try the puck into the net and wish it out of their own.

Stop setting unattainable goals. (And maybe we should all stop listening to the post-game comments, because what the hell are they going to say?)

Yes, duh, they are bad. They traded away quality players. And you can be as bitter as you're able, and I know you're able, about Auston Matthews, but they lost the best player on the team.

They have a fun and charming AHLer as their co-second-line centre with Max Domi, who is, sigh, what he is. They just lost Morgan Rielly for an unknown number of games.

They aren't going to win much. They will win some because hockey is like that. Take this opportunity to learn that. That this game is not a reward for being the right kind of person or for trying enough. This game is a battle against the strongest force there is – a universe that is random and unpredictable. And sometimes you win whether you deserve it or not.

There is no coach who can talk them out of their true nature. Give this up. Let it go. It's over.

This is three and a half weeks of penance for not fixing it sooner. Or an unfair punishment for not being able to, depending on how you spin it.

Cheer for that draft pick or don't, but there is no redemption here for anyone in these final lucky 13 games. They can't fix this roster while playing it.

This too shall pass and then we will get to the decision making portion of this crisis.

Watch Easton Cowan and see if he grows before your eyes. He sure wants too.

From The Branches