TSN analyst Bryan Hayes slams Toronto Maple Leafs after loss to 'bad team' Columbus Blue Jackets

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Oct 23, 2024 11:30 GMT

TSN analyst Bryan Hayes had strong words for the Toronto Maple Leafs after their 6-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The defeat was unexpected, especially following the Leafs’ solid 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning just a day earlier.

On Monday, the Leafs looked at their best, dominating one of the league’s top teams in front of a global audience. However, the next night against Columbus, they seemed like an entirely different team.

Hayes pointed out the Leafs' history of inconsistency and noted that they often play well against strong teams but struggle against weaker ones.

"Throwing away games to bad teams has always been the Leafs thing. New coach, new players, doesn’t matter. Play great against Tampa and then get pumped by Columbus. Leafy 101," Hayes wrote on X.

The loss to Columbus, a team not ranked among the NHL's best, clearly shows that Toronto is struggling with consistency issues. The Maple Leafs will next play against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Toronto Maple Leafs expose weaknesses in loss to Blue Jackets

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a tough game that exposed some weaknesses. Backup goalie Dennis Hildeby started in net, but the defense struggled, allowing 38 shots and six goals. While Hildeby faced challenges, the team's overall performance was the bigger issue.

The Leafs looked tired, probably from their big win against Tampa Bay the night before. However, coach Craig Berube didn’t use that as an excuse. Instead, he emphasized the team's lack of competitiveness and effort.

"It boils down to: They outskated us. They outworked us. And they were a harder team than we were. Bottom line," Berube said. "That’s an excuse, though, isn’t it? So I’m not going there."

Auston Matthews admitted the team didn’t perform well, especially in defense and controlling the neutral zone.

"The neutral zone was the Autobahn for them tonight. They were just coming in flying through, and we didn’t have very good gaps, very good angles," Matthews said (via Sportsnet).

Max Pacioretty’s injury further complicated things for Toronto, as he left the game early and will be evaluated later. Despite this setback, Nick Robertson scored his first goal of the season, though it came during garbage time.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson also had a rough night, including a turnover that led to a Blue Jackets goal. This game was a major setback for the Leafs, and they need to regroup quickly for their next matchup.