Instant Reaction: Maple Leafs’ structure remains MIA in loss to Senators

It was more of the same for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

I wrote an article last week about how the Maple Leafs’ season would ultimately hinge on these first three games out of the Olympic break. Three games against divisional rivals while sitting eight points back of a playoff spot. If there was any life to that column, the Maple Leafs could not have done a clearer job of indicating which direction they would (or should) be headed in.

After back-to-back losses against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, the Leafs returned home to host the Ottawa Senators. With the Senators entering the game one point ahead of the Maple Leafs in the standings, they played like a team that has only seen one playoff appearance since the arrival of Brady Tkachuk and wanted to bring that number up to two. The Leafs, on the other hand, looked like somebody shredded their game plan before morning skate this morning. That is, if they even had a game plan.

The Leafs went into first intermission miraculously tied 1-1 despite being outshot 16-2. In the second period, the weight collapsed on Joseph Woll and he was pulled for allowing four goals, with the Leafs limping into second intermission down 5-2 and being outshot 31-8. The third period would have been rendered completely lifeless if not for a line brawl following some antics in front of Anthony Stolarz, but it was too little too late to inject any life back into the building.

The Leafs have officially entered ‘it’s a miracle if they win’ territory after three listless efforts in a row. Keith Pelley may have thought he was acting as a beacon of hope when he sent a letter to season ticket holders and proclaimed that he would do whatever necessary to have the Leafs competing this year. But, if he’s serious about bringing a winning culture to Toronto, he’ll recognize that this team does not have the juice and green light the selling process ahead of next Friday’s deadline.