Stars and Leafs Both Need a Win: Who Will Step Up?

The Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs are both looking to bounce back as they face off on Tuesday night in Toronto. The Stars just had their seven-game winning streak snapped, while the Leafs are trying to regroup after two tough losses. Both teams know they need to step it up—and fast.

Stars Looking to Regain Their Groove

The Dallas Stars were rolling, riding a seven-game win streak and a nine-game point streak, but Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators brought that to a halt. The game started well enough, with Jason Robertson and Evgenii Dadonov scoring, but the Senators turned up the heat in the second period, and the Stars couldn’t keep up.

“We didn’t match their intensity,” said head coach Pete DeBoer. “We played a solid first period, but after that, we let them take over.”

During their win streak, the Stars were a defensive powerhouse, holding opponents to two goals or fewer in most games. Forward Wyatt Johnston admitted the team fell short. “It’s such a hard league to win in. You’ve got to show up every period, especially at the start when you can grab momentum.”

Now, Dallas is hoping to finish their road trip strong and get back to what was working so well just a few games ago.

Leafs Need to Spark Their Offense

For Toronto, it’s been a frustrating stretch. Their latest stumble came in a 3-0 shutout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, where they struggled to generate any real offense. And the home crowd wasn’t shy about letting them know it, with boos ringing out by the end of the game.

“I didn’t think we played with enough pace,” coach Craig Berube said. “We didn’t generate enough, even on the power play.”

Speaking of the power play, the Leafs went 0-for-3 against Vancouver, managing just two shots on goal. Auston Matthews didn’t sugarcoat it: “We’ve got to simplify it. More shots to the net and let things open up from there.”

There’s also a clear need for better teamwork. Defenseman Chris Tanev didn’t hold back: “They outworked us. We weren’t connected as five, and that’s where they took advantage.”

The Leafs have the talent, but they need to bring more energy and fix their issues on special teams to avoid falling further behind.

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What to Watch

These teams faced off in December, with Toronto coming out on top 5-3. But things are different now. The Stars are eager to get back on track after their first loss of 2025, while the Leafs are trying to shake off back-to-back defeats and bring some fire to their game.

For Dallas, it’s about tightening up defensively and playing a full 60 minutes. For Toronto, it’s about reigniting their offense and giving the home crowd something to cheer about.

Both teams have plenty to prove, and this matchup could come down to who wants it more. Will the Stars rebound, or will the Leafs find their spark? Either way, it’s shaping up to be a battle worth watching.