The Leafs Franchise Ties Humiliating Record Last Seen 47 Years Ago
The Toronto Maple Leafs once again faced a chorus of boos from their home fans at Scotiabank Arena, and unlike the last time, there was no silver lining in last night's game.
Despite their dramatic come-from-behind win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Leafs delivered subpar performances, allowing the Senators to score six goals by the end of the game. Instead of building on their momentum, the Leafs stumbled, leaving them with a less-than-impressive 6-5-2 record through 13 games.
Their defensive struggles reached a concerning point, tying a team record from the 1970s by allowing 4+ goals in seven consecutive home games. Head coach Sheldon Keefe didn't mince words, expressing his high level of concern over the porous defense.
"Some of it is individual," Keefe noted about the defensive challenges. "Some of it is collective within the structure. Some of it is just being committed to it."
Addressing the need for defensive prioritization, Keefe emphasized,
"We sit here and celebrate guys who score big numbers... We have to prioritize keeping the puck out of our net."
The Leafs aim to bounce back when they face the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Arena tomorrow night. Keefe sees this as an opportunity to get their game in order, especially considering the Flames' well-documented struggles this year.
"We have to get our game in order and do all that we can to take care of each other — take care of guys who are struggling at whatever position it is," Keefe said. "The team and cohesion of the group, the process that you play with, should take care of everybody. That is where we have been disconnected at times."
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
POLL |
NOVEMBRE 9 | 207 ANSWERS The Leafs Franchise Ties Humiliating Record Last Seen 47 Years Ago Will the Maple Leafs be able to redeem themselves? |
Yes | 104 | 50.2 % |
No | 103 | 49.8 % |
List of polls |
|
1 hour ago | By Graham Montgomery Washington Capitals Make Beautiful Gesture in Honour of Mike Lange Against the Pittsburgh Penguins |
|
2 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Former Penguins Marc-Andre Fleury Smashes Another NHL Record at the Age of 40 |
|
4 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Pittsburgh Penguins Make Last-Minute Roster Moves Involving Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby |
|
4 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Projected Lineup for Tonight's Game Against Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals |
|
5 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Penguins Announce Roster Move Ahead of Tonight's Divisional Matchup |
|
7 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Sidney Crosby's Status Revealed for Game vs. Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals |
|
8 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Sidney Crosby Reveals What He Saw and Felt When Connor McDavid Scored OT Winner |
|
19 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente NHL Analyst Predicts Two Pittsburgh Penguins Likely to be Traded at the Deadline |