The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a 6-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, sparking reactions from fans who attributed the team’s defeat to the absence of star forward Mitch Marner. Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in July, and his departure has left a significant gap in the team’s offense.

The game began with the Leafs taking a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Red Wings staged a strong comeback, scoring three goals in the next two periods to secure the win. Fans took to social media to express their disappointment, with many citing Marner’s absence as a key factor in the team’s loss. One fan noted that Marner’s production would be deeply missed, particularly in the regular season.

NHL analyst Carter Hutton shared his thoughts on the Maple Leafs’ prospects without Marner, stating that he is unsure how the team will replace Marner’s 102-point production from last season. Hutton pointed out that many of Auston Matthews’ high-danger scoring chances came from feeds by Marner, highlighting the significant impact of Marner’s departure on the team’s offense.

The Maple Leafs’ offense was led by Max Domi, Nicolas Roy, and Calle Järnkrok, who each scored a goal. However, the team’s defense struggled, with Anthony Stolarz making 29 saves in the loss. The Red Wings, on the other hand, saw goals from Andrew Copp, Patrick Kane, Marco Kasper, Simon Edvinsson, and Lucas Raymond, with Cam Talbot stopping 20 shots to secure the win.

The loss marks the third straight defeat for the Maple Leafs at the hands of the Red Wings. The team will look to bounce back when they host the Red Wings again on Saturday. As the season progresses, the Maple Leafs will need to find a way to replace Marner’s production and strengthen their defense if they hope to make a deep playoff run.