So how bad has it been? Let’s look at the numbers.
It should come as no surprise that the Maple Leafs are last in goals against average (4.67) and save percentage (.441) with Toskala leading the way with an ugly 5.57 GAA and .812 SV% - worst in the NHL. With those kinds of numbers you could do just as well with no goalie and an extra defenseman. Specialty teams are similar to last year with the powerplay ranked 8th overall (27.8%) but the penalty killers ranked 29th (58.3%) The opposition is scoring on almost 1 out 2 chances.
The offense at even strength has been impotent. The Leafs are scoring only 2.17 goals per game which ranks them 27th overall. They have only scored 8 even strength goals in 6 games. So goaltending isn’t there only problem. After playing three hundred and sixty-four minutes and forty seven seconds of hockey this young season, the Leafs have held a lead for all of six minutes and forty seconds. So who is the worst performer? Well Jason Blake is a -6 which ranks him 3rd worst in the NHL but he gets some credit for shoving Chris Drury into Toskala this week and partly addressing the goaltending problem.
So how are the Leafs doing in the truculence department? Well they are 1st overall in fights per game (1.5) and 7th in penalty minutes (17.8) but considering the penalty killing situation fewer penalties might be a good thing right now. Orr and Komisarek and 2nd and 3rd in the league in penalty minutes. Komisarek is also 3rd in the NHL in hits (23) and 21st in blocked shots (12) so he has more or less provided the sandpaper Burke was looking for.
With just a single point the Maple Leafs are last in the Northeast Division, last in the Eastern Conference and last in the NHL overall. That must be making the Bruins very happy. With 76 games remaining, to hit the 94 point mark (the presumed cut-off to qualify for the playoffs) the Leafs have to play .612 hockey for the balance of the season.
