The Toronto Maple Leafs desperately wanted a win against the New York Islanders. It’s a pick your narrative type of situation for the Leafs.
They could clinch a playoff spot with a win. They have three wins in their last ten games. And then they’ll be trying to make sure they don’t get embarrassed for a third time.
For the Islanders, it was yet another chance to rub their success and cohesiveness in the face of their former captain.
Unfortunately, the narrative wave coming out of Toronto proved to be too much.