Leafs losing more bets on Olympics than games recently

The Toronto Maple Leafs, on the verge of the team’s most wins in February in a decade and having only 20 games remaining, can afford a little levity.

When Wednesday’s practice began, forwards William Nylander and Leo Komarov were a shade red from embarrassment, while wearing red and white.

Komarov’s Finnish national team lost 1-0 to Canada a few hours earlier at the Olympics and he was wearing a Team Canada sweater. He lost a bet with assistant coach and former Canadian national program staffer Andrew Brewer.

“Looked good on me, eh?” good sport Komarov said after. “It was a good game, but Canada deserved to win. I just feel bad for Finland. They could have won, too.”

Nylander, whose Swedes were upset by Germany on Wednesday, had already lost a world junior gold bet to Leafs head coach Mike Babcock. He had to put on a more loud sweater — red base with white trim and a No. 14 and Sochi on the back from the 2014 Games.

Babcock was grateful for Wednesday’s outcome.

“I would’ve had to wear a Swedish sweat suit,” Babcock said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t have been able to get it off.”

The Leafs’ record is 3720-5 and 8-2 this month heading into Thursday’s home game against the New York Islanders.

This will be the second straight game the Leafs face a conference opponent in playoff peril, after beating Florida 1-0 Tuesday.

“We’re going to play a hungry team with a lot on the line, who didn’t have a good night here last time (a 5-0 loss),” Babcock said. “They have a lot on the line.”