For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter If the Toronto Maple Leafs were seeking a springboard or some confidence building with a week left to go in the regular season, then neither goal was accomplished in a 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Center on Saturday. The Leafs were able to generate plenty of opportunities, firing 44 shots on Sens goalie Craig Anderson, but were stonewalled for most of the night by the veteran netminder. Garret Sparks was not as difficult to beat, as Ottawa built a 2-0 lead on goals by Anthony Duclair and Magnus Paajarvi that beat the Toronto backup five-hole. Toronto finally broke through in the third, with Auston Matthews scoring his 37th goal on the power play and Connor Brown tying the game 27 seconds apart, but Ottawa responded just over a minute later, as Cody Ceci snapped a wrist shot over Sparks right shoulder for the game winner. “I just have to make more saves. We come roaring back to tie the game, it would have a been a huge save to make on the third one and obviously, the first two weren’t great either.… Sparks said after the game. “(I saw Ceci) walking down the middle with a good shot, but I’ve got to get out more. I’ve got to wear that, got to find a way to get a piece of it and make a save for the team because they were playing so well.… Travis Dermott made his return after missing over a month with a shoulder injury and played nearly 18 minutes on the night. While the 22-year-old looked good jumping into the offensive attack early in the game, there was some tentativeness in his game at the defensive end of the ice, especially on Ceci’s game winner when he and defense partner Martin Marincin backed in and allowed the blueliner an unhindered shot on goal. “I thought Dermott had a real good first period and moved the puck.… Head coach Mike Babcock said. “I didn't think, down the stretch, he was as good just defensively in his own zone. That's one of the reasons you get back early and you get back playing so you can be up to speed.… Toronto ended up losing three of four games to the NHL's worst club and had a difficult time with the Sens disturbers, especially rookie Brady Tkachuk, who jabbed at Matthews on a few occasions and drew Andreas Johnsson into a careless cross-checking penalty in the third period. They will face more of that in the playoffs from the likes of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and fourth liners like Chris Wagner and will have to deal with that type of antagonism better. “I know (Tkachuk and Colin White) really well, so anytime you go up against guys you know well, that you’re friends with, you want to compete out there. They’re both very good competitors and great players.… Matthews said. “They had a good night tonight, it’s fun going up against guys you kind of grew up playing with. I think it just makes you battle that much harder. All in all, it would have been better to come out with two points tonight.… The Leafs will take on the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on April Fool’s Day. Frederik Andersen will likely get the start in the first of back-to-back games and defenseman Calle Rosen should be in the Toronto lineup. *******
A Leafs run of epic proportions...
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) March 31, 2019
Is it going to happen? Or not?@MikeInBuffalo @TheLeafsConvo https://t.co/6wJtzcHEOG