Got back in town last night to see the latest Leaf disaster - and we will see a lot of them until there are some dramatic changes. The things that I have been harping before the season started are mostly coming true. The Leafs are the worst defensive team in the league. That's hard to believe when they have the most expensive defense in the NHL.
Toronto has allowed the most shots on goal per game of any team in the league so far — this after finishing seventh in the category last season. And the one thing that hasn't changed is the team save percentage, which after dipping to a god-awful .888 last year is down to .884. (Los Angeles is the bottom feeder at .862).
Toronto's been bad at even strength (21 goals against, better than only the Kings), and on the penalty kill (13 goals against, better than only Atlanta). They've been shorthanded a league-high 61 times, and the power play's firing at just 11.1 per cent.
The real wonder, come to think of it, is just how this team has managed to get eight points out of its first nine games. Well, that and the fact Nik Antropov leads the league in plus-minus.
At least they've got Atlanta on Tuesday.
Not sure how much longer Paul Maurice will last.
12 years ago
