The Leafs are not supposed to win much this year, just like Buffalo Sabres last season. The ultimate prize they want this season is a high draft pick. On the way to that goal, they also want to trade away most of their soon-to-be unrestricted free agents at the trade deadline to collect even more draft picks. The ideal game for them:
- Lose
- Play sound hockey that keeps tilting the ice in their favour, but lacks talent to win the game
- Solid play, goals, and assists for the Leafs players they want to trade
In that way, while the Penguins still gave them the loss they wanted, the actual win may have been that the Leafs didn't look good while doing it.