What happened: Toronto hosts Minnesota on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET, with the first quarter of the 2026-27 season now complete. Sportsnet's quarter-season review says the Maple Leafs need a heater in the second quarter to keep pace with a league pulling away from them.

Why it matters: Toronto fell 6-3 to Colorado in its most recent coverage window, and questions about its playoff viability have followed. A quick start to the second quarter would ease that pressure.

What to watch: Thursday's game against Minnesota is the first chance to start that second-quarter push.