When humanity is threatened only the super powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. The Leafs have undergone a major overhaul this year. Of all the changes, none has been more impactful than the addition of a squadron based tactical deployment that head coach Mike Babcock and GM Kyle Dubas designed to keep the peace on the mean Toronto streets. Today we follow Flagella squad:

Travis Dermott slams into the wall and shatters it. Even grown big, the impact is hard enough for The Toronto Maple Leaf to feel it. Across the street Par Lindholm holds the giant at bay with an endless stream of fire from his assault rifle. To a human sized target the hard light bullets Par creates are as effective as mundane ammunition. Against the giant terrorizing Bay Street Par is finding his super power stretched to his limit.

Travis gets back to his feet and rushes to grapple the giant. “Help Brownie!” He yells as he rushes past Par.

Connor Brown doesn’t need help. His power to absorb kinetic energy makes something like a building falling on him akin to Popeye eating his spinach. With a yell Connor throws the wreckage off his back and redirects the energy coursing through him into a blast that rips the giant in half.

The Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t given any time regroup before another giant is summoned into the street in front of them. The monsters have been arriving one after another for hours. The Leafs have been so busy fighting them off that they haven’t had time to seek for the source. All they can do is keep fighting and hope that something changes, some help arrives unlooked for. But it hasn’t happened yet and the Leafs can’t afford to wait around until it does.

Travis punches the giant in the face. Par focuses fire on its left knee. Connor blasts its right ankle. The crippled giant makes to swing the massive reptilian jaw bone it uses as a club but shouts out in pain instead.

The giants skin ripples weirdly and starts to burst as it’s blood boils. The howl that tears out of its throat as it dies makes the Leafs shiver. It collapses with a shudder and the silence that follows settles in like a fog.

“I guess we did it?” Travis asks.

“What did we do?” Par asks in reply.

The Death howl of the giant returns with a gale force that blasts the Leafs off their feet. The sky above them goes dark. A single star blazes bright and pulses with energy. Waves of heat and sound pummel the Leafs. Travis shrinks back down to normal size without even noticing. Time and space cease to matter as the world turns into a place of deafening pain and relentless pressure. Just when Travis thinks he can’t take any more, it stops.

The Leafs lay helpless as they recover. Unnoticed, a figure approaches. Booted feet step lightly and strong hands reach out and gently grasp Travis on his shoulders. Invigorating coolness washes over the Leaf and he sits up refreshed. Oliver Ekmann-Larsson of the Arizona Coyotes reaches out for Connor next, then Par.

“It’s over now.” Oliver says. “We found the giants home planet and closed the door.”

“Home planet?” Connor asks.

“They were aliens, didn’t you notice?” The Leafs hadn’t noticed. “Do you need any more help? Maybe with the clean up?”

The Coyote is so genuine in his desire to be helpful that the Leafs can’t even be offended by his condescension.

“It’s okay.” Travis answers. “We got this.”