Did the Leafs win last night
toronto maple leafsnhl hockeydennis hildeby

Did the Leafs win last night

Marcus Sullivan
Marcus Sullivan
February 21, 2026

So, did the Leafs win last night? Yeah, they dominated Tampa Bay 2-0 in a really impressive performance. Dennis Hildeby was absolutly phenomenal in net, posting his first NHL shutout with 29 saves. The Lightning couldn't get anything past him. This win is huge for Toronto since they're fighting hard for a playoff spot.

Dennis Hildeby's historic shutout steals the show

Dennis Hildeby just hit a major milestone. The young goaltender faced 29 shots and stopped every single one, earning his first NHL shutout. For a developing player, a performance like this shows you really belong in the league (pretty cool moment for him). Hildeby's night proves the Leafs have solid goaltending depth beyond their starter. When your backup goalie plays lights-out hockey, it takes massive pressure off the whole team. Coaches get confidence knowing they have options, and that matters a lot.

Goals from Rielly and Matthews seal the victory

Morgan Rielly scored the opening goal in the first period, with assists from Easton Cowan and John Tavares. Rielly now has 5 goals this season, showing he contributes on offense from the blue line. Auston Matthews locked down the win with an empty-net goal in the final seconds, his 12th goal of the year. Matthews keeps proving why he's one of Toronto's most dangerous offensive weapons. Both goals came from strong team play rather than lucky bounces or anything like that.

The Leafs currently sit with 14 wins, 11 losses, and 4 overtime losses for 32 points. In this competitive season, every single win counts. Toronto plays in a tough division where playoff positioning changes fast. This shutout victory boosts their standing and builds momentum. When your goalie plays perfect defense and your stars score timely goals, winning becomes pretty straightforward. The Leafs showed balanced hockey last night - solid defense in front and clutch scoring when the moment called for it.

This material is AI-assisted. See something that doesn't look right? Contact zoneonecomplex at [email protected].

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