Leafs season slipping away

Things are falling apart for the Toronto Maple Leafs and coach Randy Carlyle is beyond worried.  

"Our concern is very high," said the coach, after a 6-3 loss to St. Louis Wednesday night.  

That playoff position that looked to be so secure a month ago could be a thing of the past - soon. 

"For our hockey club tonight, it looked like we were totally brain dead in a lot of areas," said Carlyle. "I don't know any other way to describe it from a standpoint of where the goals are being scored from."

What a difference six weeks makes. After a great start to the season, the Leafs can’t find their way. They are constantly being outshot, have struggled to score goals at even strength and the once impenetrable penalty-kill is now leaking big-time.

The Leafs have lost 8 of 10 (of the two wins, one came in overtime, the other in a shootout).  And with a schedule that will see them host Chicago on Saturday, and visit Pittsburgh on Monday, little relief appears to be in sight.

They have allowed 14 power-play goals in the last 11 games, including a stretch in which they allowed power-play goals in 9 straight games.

James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier – so strong earlier this season – have looked like a shell of their earlier self. Reimer allowed 3 goals on 15 shots before he was pulled before the end of the opening period against St. Louis.

What also makes this loss to the Blues tough to take was that the night before, the Leafs may have played their best game (a 3-1 loss to LA).

"We were definitely flat on emotion and energy. We didn't have much of a defence for them," said a clearly frustrated Carlyle.

“(Following a win over LA) was some stuff to build on,” said defenceman Carl Gunnarsson. “And tonight, it was like it was all gone.”

Carlyle can’t be happy with his team’s defensive effort and zone coverage. In just four games this season have the Leafs outshot their opponents. And against the Blues they managed 36 shots on goal – too many of the easy variety.

“We have systems that our coverage has to be in place. If you vacate those critical areas you’re going to give up easy goals,” said Carlyle.  “We didn’t win enough of those down-low confrontations. Look where they scored the goals from.”

Carlyle made those comments following the loss to St. Louis. But it is something he could have said after countless losses this season.

It is mid-December and the team continues to make the same mistakes, time and time again.

After the collapse to the Bruins in the playoffs, the Leafs were determined to be a tougher team to play against this season.

When Leo Komorov decided to play back in Russia, the Leafs knew they would miss his grit and work ethic. But the Leafs miss Komorov more than anyone would have imagined.

Clarke MacArthur and Mikhail Grabovski were let go and replaced by David Bolland and David Clarkson.

The Leafs miss MacArthur’s and Gravovski’s offence and with Bolland out of the lineup with an ankle injury and Clarkson being unable to provide much in the way of goals, Toronto has become too easy a team to play against.

“There’s lots of time. Fifty games left. There’s no reason to panic,” said Nazem Kadri.

The signs suggest otherwise. Just ask Randy Carlyle.