TORONTO – Anthony Stolarz watched from the crease as his teammates battled for 60 hard minutes.
asserted
teammates → watch → minutes
The goaltender also did his part with a string of big saves against Connor McDavid and Co.
One shot was the difference Saturday.
asserted
shot → do → McDavid
The Maple Leafs once again came out on the losing end.
asserted
Leafs → come → end
Toronto went toe-to-toe with Edmonton in a grinding, playoff-style matchup accented by an Evan Bouchard blast and 19 saves from Devon Levi in the Oilers’ 1-0 victory.
asserted
Toronto → go → victory
The Maple Leafs (8-12-2) completed a disastrous 0-6-0 homestand with their best performance of an ugly 12-day stretch, but wound up with the same result.
asserted
Leafs → complete → result
“It’s definitely frustrating,” Stolarz said after finishing with 22 saves against an opponent that improved to 15-3-3.
asserted
that → ’ → 15
“That’s how we have to play.
asserted
we → ’ → ?
“That’s a hell of a hockey team right there.
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That → ’ → team
They’re up there in the standings and we stuck with them every minute of this game.
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we → ’re → game
This is something that we have to build on.
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we → have → that
We have to play like this every night.”
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We → have → this
Toronto’s six straight home losses — a gauntlet that also included games against the Utah Mammoth, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche — are the most since the 1985-86 season.
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that → include → season
“Guys played their tail off …
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Guys → play → tail
I don’t think anybody’s going to question that,” Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller said.
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Hiller → think → that
“I’d like to see them get rewarded.
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them → like → ?
You write your stories, but I’m here to tell you we deserved better than that over that six-game homestand.
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we → write → homestand
“We’ll move on to the next one.”
asserted
We → move → one
Toronto centre John Tavares, who had a goal called back for a high stick early in the third period, said the group’s failure to get results at Scotiabank Arena has been bitterly disappointing.
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failure → have → Arena
“We feel for our fans,” he said.
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he → feel → fans
“But the effort and the continued buy-in guys are having and trying to find our way through it, I thought has been there.
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I → continue → it
“Right there to win the hockey game and I guarantee we’re going to keep working to find our way through it.
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we → win → it
We’ll get through it and be better for it.”
asserted
We → get → it
The veteran forward added it’s important to keep doubt at bay as the Maple Leafs prepare to hit the road for a Tuesday matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks.
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Leafs → add → Blackhawks
“You try not to always get caught up in the results, but it’s ultimately what matters,” Tavares said.
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Tavares → try → results
“I’d be lying if you didn’t say you feel it and it’s disappointing and frustrating, but you’re trying to channel all that in the right way.
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you → lie → way
The way the group is continuing to stay positive and stick together is what we have to do.
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we → continue → what
“It’s tough sledding.”
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It → ’ → ?
Toronto defenceman Chris Tanev said everyone in the organization has to look in the mirror.
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everyone → say → mirror
“At the end of the day, you need to get results,” he said.
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he → need → results
“That’s what this league is about.
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league → ’ → what
But got to try to build off of that and work hard to improve the areas that we need to.”
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we → got → areas
Hiller said the search for answers will continue as Toronto aims to climb out of this early hole — last in the Atlantic Division and already eight points out of a playoff spot — after missing the post-season last spring for the first time in a decade.
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Toronto → say → decade
“We’re all professionals,” he said.
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he → ’re → ?
“This is a hard thing to go through.
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This → go → ?
But what’s your options?
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options → ’ → ?
I think to me, your option is: come out and play your (butt) off.
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option → think → butt
“Hopefully things turn out better.”
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things → turn → ?
CALLED BACK
Tavares tipped a William Nylander shot past Levi that would have tied the score 1-1 before the goal was called back for a high stick following a long review.
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goal → call → review
“That one hurt,” Hiller said.
asserted
Hiller → hurt → ?
“I saw a goal called on the ice.
asserted
I → see → ice
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
