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# Weekend FTB: Matthews, Matthews, Wherefore Art Thou, Matthews?
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-detroit-red-wings-lose-three-straight-help-us-auston-you-are-our-only-hope/
- Published: 2017-12-16T12:00:02.000Z
- Updated: 2017-12-16T12:00:02.000Z
- Description: Leafs lose three straight, could really use some offensive help.
- Author: Brian Stewart
- Tags: From The Branches, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:15

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Detroit Red Wings ([you can read our recap here](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-recap-detroit-red-wings-lose-3-1-curtis-mcelhinney-andreas-borgman/)). That’s bad.

The Leafs are still tied for 2nd in the conference (with like 4 other teams who have played fewer games mind you). That’s good.

The Leafs have lost three straight games. That’s bad.

The Leafs are NOT the Ottawa Senators with [Eugene “hold my beer, Calgary” Melnyk](https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/941842194628952065?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com). That’s good.

The Leafs have been without Auston Matthews, maybe because of a concussion. That’s bad.

Auston Matthews is still a Leaf. That’s good.

But his head might be laced with potassium benzoate.

### ONTO THE LINKS!

Speaking of the Leafs losing streak wherein they have scored 3 goals over 3 games: we PPP bloggers met to share our best ideas for [how to optimize the Leafs’ forward lines](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/ppp-fixes-the-leafs-lines-combinations-roundtable-matthews-nylander-marner-komarov-kadri-jvr/).

Elseldo continues his count down of the best Leafs by jersey number: [Maple Leafs by the Numbers: #4 Red Kelly, Hap Day, or Harry Watson?](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-by-the-numbers-4-red-kelly-hap-day-or-harry-watson/)

Nafio wrote a preview of the best Women’s international hockey showdown: [Western showdown: Canada vs USA game five](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/how-to-watch-olympics-team-canada-vs-usa-preview-womens-ice-hockey-marie-philip-poulin-cayla-barnes/)

Speaking of the Marlies winning again last night: [Kevin wrote a quick scouting report on some key Marlies prospects.](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-timothy-liljegren-jeremy-bracco-andreas-johnsson-dmytro-timashov-marlies/)

[Gus Katsaros wrote a piece about the Leafs’ recent change in play style](https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2017/12/15/the-toronto-maple-leafs-change-in-playing-style-separating-fact-from-fiction/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com), from up-tempo offensive juggernaut to slowed-down defensive jugger-NOT. He’s one of my favourite hockey analysts/scouts out there, and this is worth a read.

If you like Justin Bourne’s systems analyst style posts, he has a new one up [breaking down the Flyers’ game winning goal against the Leafs](https://theathletic.com/183669/2017/12/13/bourne-on-details-staying-above-and-the-inches-that-cost-the-leafs-against-the-flyers/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) a couple of games ago.

It’s Saturday. I have three Christmas events to attend over the next two days, two weeks before Christmas itself. God help me...

Happy weekend everybody!

### Who’s to blame for the Leafs’ losing streak?

| Rielly, for knocking out Matthews                                                                           | 55  |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Komarov, for having zero points and one shot in 5 games despite having the 2nd most ice time among forwards | 39  |
| Babcock, for doing that second thing                                                                        | 177 |
| Millennials, because they didn’t buy a house with McDonalds wraps or something                              | 56  |