Amid a campaign that’s been all tumult, all peaks and valleys, it was a familiar sight for the fans packing the Scotiabank Arena stands. A night that saw their Toronto Maple Leafs seemingly find progress — only to see injuries, past ghosts and ill-timed moments of wobbly focus undo them in the end.

While the early going showed glimpses of the side that’s been funnelling pucks into the back of the net over the past week, the Canadiens’ middle-period assault pushed the Maple Leafs off their game, their finishing ability abandoning them.

As we barrel further into the NHL’s 2025-26 campaign, the league’s potential post-season picture is coming into focus.

It isn't the first time the Oilers have found themselves in this position. And therein lies the problem.

Scott Laughton finally got his moment, drawing back into the lineup as a steadying presence for the depleted Maple Leafs, helping them earn a much-needed point in the process.

You can feel it all going off the rails. The whole thing tilting a little bit more, night after night. The wheels starting to lose their purchase.