Three third-period goals fuel a stunning Maple Leafs comeback over Chicago

Down 2-0 with 10 minutes left in the third period, the Maple Leafs were hearing the boo-birds from the fans in attendance at Scotiabank Arena and for good reason. The team was lifeless, had barely any offense, and Craig Berube was about one more bad play away from breaking something.

But in a miraculous effort sparked either by the ire of their head coach or given the fact they were putting a blemish on Joe Bowen's special night, but the Maple Leafs had three unanswered goals to come away with a 3-2 win.

First it was Oliver Ekman-Larsson who got things started as he scored on a wrist shot from the point that made it through some bodies and past Spencer Knight.

Then a little while later, Auston Matthews showed a bit of his former glory as he roofed a shot over Knight while on the power play, evening things up at two.

Then only eight seconds later, Dakota Joshua outmuscled Matt Grzelcyk and flipped the puck past Knight for the quick 3-2 lead; one they would keep until the final buzzer sounded. Just like that, it went from three-game skid to a momentum builder.

It was a great ten minutes of hockey, but that can't be the modus operandi for the Maple Leafs going forward. They need this type of effort night in and night out for sixty minutes.

There were several fans on social media during the first period who flat out believe the Maple Leafs had given up on their head coach and were playing so lazy in order to make him look worse and maybe spark a management change.

But whatever it was that made them kick it into gear Tuesday night needs to be the standard looking ahead.

They play Washington on Thursday and Nashville on Saturday. If they can withstand the Capitals and make a statement against a struggling Predators team then it'll make the next two games against Dallas and Ottawa a bit less do-or-die.

Hopefully they will get some more news on Chris Tanev, Brandon Carlo, and Anthony Stolarz in the meantime, though don't expect much.

For now though, on a night that was expected to be full of positivity and good memories, at least the Maple Leafs gave Joe Bowen something he can remember forever. A huge comeback win for a huge legend in the annals of the franchise.