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# Thursday's FTB: Another player leaves the ice
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/thursdays-ftb-another-player-leaves-the-ice/
- Published: 2026-01-22T11:00:44.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-22T11:00:43.000Z
- Description: Another game lost to too much caution offensively.
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: From The Branches

The Sceptres have another late night game tonight, this time in Vancouver: 

[Sceptres Road Trip: Stay up lateTwo 10 pm start times this week![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/PPP-Goalie-Logo_RGB-383.png)PPP LeafsCathy Squires![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1668101595293-91327d53cf0b)](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/sceptres-road-trip-stay-up-late/)

Various newsy things: 

> Josh Doan has signed a seven-year contract with the [@BuffaloSabres](https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)! 🦬  
>  
> Full breakdown ⤵️[https://t.co/NvXKjkUfGJ](https://t.co/NvXKjkUfGJ?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — NHL Media (@NHLMedia) [January 21, 2026](https://twitter.com/NHLMedia/status/2014115729780461568?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Joseph Woll on regrouping:   
>  
> "I write stuff down ... My mind can spin & spin on games like, I imagine, a lot of other people. For me, it helps to kind of put it to rest. I know I can let it go because I've taken what I need from it & can just flush it"[https://t.co/Cf5I4XkDMy](https://t.co/Cf5I4XkDMy?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Mark Masters (@markhmasters) [January 21, 2026](https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/2014097666972450833?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> The Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly looking to sell a 10% stake in the franchise for $200 million. This will remain Bill Foley's team, but Vegas is one of a few franchises looking at the league landscape and considering a partial sale.  
>  
> FULL EPISODE:  
> 🖥️Watch:… [pic.twitter.com/zN4aPvVQkf](https://t.co/zN4aPvVQkf?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) [January 21, 2026](https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/2014072714323976663?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

[Jones out for Olympics, replaced by LaCombe on Team USA | NHL.comDucks defenseman added to roster for Milano Cortina Games![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/icon/favicon-apple-touch-icon-187.png)NHL logoNHLMedia![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/thumbnail/pwoaeb0kxwva6un7x9ew.jpg)](https://www.nhl.com/news/seth-jones-replaced-by-jackson-lacombe-on-team-usa-olympics-roster?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Chris Cuthbert on the broadcast last night reported that Dakota Joshua should resume skating next week. 

About last night...

The Leafs were a very different team to who they were last game. They got the first goal in a fast-paced period: 

> Laughton holds the line and the trio score [pic.twitter.com/86bH9tmIzR](https://t.co/86bH9tmIzR?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014131424329159163?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Easton Cowan did that thing he does too much: 

> Cowan to the box for holding [pic.twitter.com/gJeZhztG6W](https://t.co/gJeZhztG6W?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014131653828874258?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

But the Leafs killed it. 

Carlo saved a goal: 

> Carlo parked it and stopped it [pic.twitter.com/pTvx9KBofe](https://t.co/pTvx9KBofe?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014134486053617839?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

And, as seems to be a regular thing, a player left the game: 

> Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been in the dressing room for some time [pic.twitter.com/Bf5uxVmAga](https://t.co/Bf5uxVmAga?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014136152228327769?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Joe Woll with a big save at the end of the first: 

> huge crowd in the crease but Woll stops it [pic.twitter.com/n5ebM5XKVe](https://t.co/n5ebM5XKVe?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014137846710296823?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

And then a not terribly good job of defending a rush against ended the period with the game tied: 

> Simon Edvinsson ties it late [pic.twitter.com/wr0oAkofr2](https://t.co/wr0oAkofr2?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014138264806957336?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

The second was made up of a string of penalties with no scoring on the power plays. Scott Laughton drew a penalty shot (and he and everyone else wishes it had been a power play.)

> penalty shot for Laughton [pic.twitter.com/uLnWSeJNDG](https://t.co/uLnWSeJNDG?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014150611428585665?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Laughton loses the puck on the attempt [pic.twitter.com/eF2cMRpTmh](https://t.co/eF2cMRpTmh?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014150903301800144?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Benny ended the second with a bang:

> Benoit drops Raymond [pic.twitter.com/1an5GOql7S](https://t.co/1an5GOql7S?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014152686212420067?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

After two the Corsi was dead even at five-on-five, but the xG disparity is obvious below. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2026/01/20252026-20788-sva.png)

And even more so in all-situations (each team had two power plays): 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2026/01/20252026-20788-all.png)

None of which matters because the game is as tied as it was at puck drop.

Matt Knies did not appear immediately for the third period which left the leafs 11/5 for six minutes.

The third period involved a lot of playing for the tie late in the game and a dominating performance by Detroit that got them zero goals. The Leafs conceded the field pretty much non-stop in what sure looks like worrying about losing more than trying to win.

Overtime is now an anxious affair without William Nylander and with no OEL, it was even more of a struggle. 

Woll had to be great, Morgan Rielly had to save a goal, and Auston Matthews missed an open net. 

Dylan Larkin won the game. 

2-1 Detroit was the final. 

Play of the game, though: 

> LOL the puck was long gone [pic.twitter.com/vgRQ8i5vCS](https://t.co/vgRQ8i5vCS?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [January 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/2014166809046364625?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Fifty games and 57 points means the Leafs have to play at .641 the rest of the season to get to 98 points. No one is sure 98 points is enough either, but we have to pick some number. They are currently at .570.

Just to quantify that a little more, a .570 pace gets you 93 points. 

Okay, that's all for today, have a great day and we're back at it on Friday.