What slump?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled mightily of late, and Thursday's meeting in Florida against the NHL-leading Tampa Bay Lightning was as daunting a test as Mike Babcock's beleaguered team could have asked for.
So, of course, the Leafs won.
Zach Hyman's empty net goal sealed an improbable 4-2 victory for the visiting Maple Leafs, putting an end to a two-game losing streak and giving hope to a Toronto team that had lost four of the six games prior to Thursday's victory over the Lightning.
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The win also ends a nine-game home winning streak for Tampa Bay, and keeps the Leafs from experiencing a three-game losing skid for the first time this season.
In addition, Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau each found the net against the Lightning. Both players had been ice cold in the goal department, with neither having scored since before Christmas — a 10-game goalless stretch for Kadri and a nine-game drought for Marleau.
Despite the horrific start to 2019, Toronto continues to be an elite team in the NHL. Thursday's win gives the Maple Leafs 60 points on the season, tying a franchise record for fewest games required to reach that mark and good for second place in the Eastern Conference standings behind Tampa Bay.
The @MapleLeafs (29-15-2, 60 points) matched their franchise record for fewest games to reach the 60-point benchmark (also 46 GP in 1961-62, 1950-51 and 1934-35). #NHLStats #TORvsTBL pic.twitter.com/NruWHri3iP
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 18, 2019
While Toronto was equaling a franchise mark for points, forward Mitch Marner was also writing his name in the team's record books by reaching 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) faster than all but three other players in Maple Leafs' history.
It's the first time a Leafs player has started his career with three consecutive seasons of 60 points or more.
Only three players in @MapleLeafs franchise history have reached the 60-point mark in fewer team games than @Marner93. #NHLStats #TORvsTBL pic.twitter.com/RiuOxG7jZu
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 18, 2019
The Maple Leafs won't have much time to dwell on their big victory as they're back in action Friday against the Florida Panthers in suburban Miami, where they'll try to put together their first win streak of the new year.
Time will only tell if Thursday's game was a turning point for the Leafs. If it was, then all it took was a visit to the runaway leaders' arena.