Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) scored in his team’s 7-4 loss on Tuesday night, but his team is now eight points back of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and on a five-game losing streak.John E. Sokolowski/Reuters
Facing what one player had called a “have to win” game on Tuesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs kicked it up to a playoff gear. Not during the game, unfortunately. On the ice, the Leafs lay down and died again. Buffalo won 7-4.
How bad was it? Though the game was over with about tens left to go, nobody in the audience really bothered booing. The Leafs are past that sort of rough encouragement.
It was only after the game that the Leafs found their post-season…