No time to take your foot off the gas

Perhaps the pessimists among us could see this coming.

With the recent success and all the hard work and sweat that helped bring the team back to the brink of playoff contention, last night’s loss to Phoenix was very disappointing. 

Just as there is nothing like the pressure of being a losing team, there is no better feeling than being a winner in Toronto, something that Leaf fans have seen in short flurries during the last several years.

It seems as though players and coaches went into this game feeling pretty good about themselves, with some justification, owing to their 8-3-1 mark heading into the game. What they did do, is forget many of the basic tasks and responsibilities that they need to carry out.

In some ways it was a throwback to the first eight games of the season.

I mean, how do you explain Mike Komisarek covering the faceoff circle while a Coyote forward was allowed to stand, unmarked, beside Vesa Toskala, and have all day to put a puck past him? On several rushes into the Leaf end the Toronto defense pairings were separated by almost the entire width of the rink. On many of their power play advantages, the Leafs spent very little time actually set up in the offensive zone. The Leaf forwards were caught chasing the puck with abandon and drawn out of position by the quick passing of the Coyotes. There were breakdowns all over the ice, during the first ten minutes of the second period, which decided this one.

They can make excuses for a couple of goals, one deflection and another bouncing in off Ian White. You know, what they say about excuses?

That early-second period collapse was allowed to unfold without the coaching staff even using a timeout to stem the tide and possibly change the momentum. Coach Ron Wilson’s passivity mirrored that of his team on this night.

Why did this happen?

It looked like the Leafs were too busy patting themselves on the back, over recent accomplishments and simply took the night off.

This job is not complete, boys, and upcoming games against perennial nemeses, the Sabres and Bruins will provide that stark reminder, if you’re as unprepared for battle as you showed last night

Tags: Ian White, Mike Komisarek, Ron Wilson, Toronto Maple Leafs