It is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and here I am, Carlton Bear, once again putting on the jersey and hoping this year is somehow different. Spoiler alert: it probably isn't. The Leafs are currently sitting at 8-6-2 with 68 games left in the season. We’re five games back in the Atlantic, and honestly, being 'in the race' feels more like being trapped in a hamster wheel that never stops spinning. The season is very much alive, though I often wonder if my blood pressure would prefer it if it weren't. Tonight, we face Utah at 7:00 PM ET. Will we see greatness or the usual defensive lapses that age me a decade? Who knows. Meanwhile, the league is busy elsewhere with a massive 11-game slate, including Winnipeg at Montreal and Edmonton heading to Jersey. Looking back at yesterday, Monday, November 2, we saw Boston edge Vegas 3-2, Detroit handle Florida 5-3, Colorado defeat Chicago 5-2, and Calgary squeak by San Jose 2-1. As a Leafs fan, I’ve mastered the art of cautious hope, which is really just a polite term for expecting the worst while desperately praying for the best.