3 least Toronto Maple Leafs players from 4-0 shutout loss to Washington Capitals ft. Oliver Ekman-Larsson

The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a disappointing 4-0 shutout loss to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Thursday.

The Leafs generated limited offense and were shaky on defense, thoroughly getting outplayed while the Capitals capitalized efficiently with Jakub Chychrun scoring twice and Logan Thompson earning a shutout.

Aliaksei Portas and John Carlson were the other two scorers for the hosts in the matchup, where the Caps had 29 shots compared to the Leafs' 22. Below are the three least impressive Toronto Maple Leafs players in defeat against the Washington Capitals.

3 least impressive Toronto Maple Leafs players from loss to Washington Capitals

#3 Auston Matthews

Matthews had a quiet night in a game with the Maple Leafs, who desperately needed production from their stars. Playing heavy minutes, the Leafs' captain managed minimal shots on goal and no points, contributing to the team's overall lack of threat against Thompson.

The absence of impact from Matthews amplified the frustration, particularly as the power play went 0-for-multiple opportunities without generating sustained pressure.

#2 Dennis Hildeby

Hildeby faced a moderate shot volume but couldn’t provide the timely saves to keep the Leafs in the game. He finished with a save percentage well below .900, marking a clear step back from his strong recent form.

In a low-scoring shutout loss, the goaltender’s inability to steal a game—especially against a Capitals team rebounding from losses—stood out as a key factor in the lopsided result.

#1 Oliver Ekman Larsson

Toronto’s defense struggled to contain Washington’s transitions and cycles, with multiple goals coming from sustained pressure or breakdowns in coverage. Ekman-Larsson, coming off a hot streak with points in recent games, had a notably poor outing in terms of positioning and puck management.

This exposed Hildeby repeatedly and prevented any comeback momentum. His unit failed to limit high-danger chances, exposing Hildeby repeatedly. Ekman-Larsson ended the game with the team's worst minus-4 rating.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to bounce back when they take on the Nashville Predators next Saturday.

Wayne Gretzky’s wife Janet responds to critics questioning his loyalty to Canada, Bobby Orr's support following 4 Nations drama

Edited by Abhishek Dilta