Ending the scoring funk

The Toronto Maple Leafs desperately need better goaltending or to figure out a way to get Nikolai Kulemin to start scoring goals.

Because the way things stand after two embarrassing losses to the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers, the good start the Leafs treated their fans to is soon to be forgotten. Twelve goals against versus one goal for in two games -- at home -- is very concerning, to say the least.

The biggest problem, one would suggest, is between the pipes where both Jonas Gustavsson and Ben Scrivens have struggled while trying to pick up the slack created by the injury to starter James Reimer.

Scoring and goaltending have both been major issues for the Leafs and while it is unlikely Gustavsson and Scrivens will ever challenge for the Vezina Trophy or that Kulemin will seriously compete for the Rocket Richard Trophy, getting some significant offence out of the Russian winger would go a long way toward getting Toronto back to its winning ways.

Kulemin can't seem to buy a goal these days. With just two goals in 12 games, to go with six points, it's not as though Kulemin has been a total skunk. Still, he hasn't scored in eight games. Much more was expected from a 25-year-old coming off a breakout year in which he had single-season highs in goals, assists and points.

In Monday's 5-1 loss to the Panthers, Kulemin finished with a team-high six shots on goal and had three glorious scoring opportunities in the third period. But he finished the night with donuts -- no goals or points.

Asked about his missed opportunities in the third, Kulemin said, "I had chances to score before, too, but nothing is going in for me. I just try to work hard every shift and do my best and I feel it is coming. I try to score every time I'm on the ice."

Whether he's scoring or not, nobody would ever question Kulemin's effort level or work ethic. Captain Dion Phaneuf feels it's just a matter of time before Kulemin begins scoring at a more consistent pace.

"We're really confident in him; he's such a skilled guy," Phaneuf said. "He works so hard and the puck is just not going to go in for him. Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don't. When you have to be worried is when you're not getting chances and he has been getting chances."

Kulemin knows he had his chances against the Panthers. At 6:36 of the third period he broke in alone on Jose Theodore, who had a marvelous night, but was turned away. Three minutes later Kulemin was unable to control a rebound in tight with Theodore down and out that surely would have led to a goal had he been able to handle the puck. Then at 13:08 he was in alone, but was unable to jam the puck past the 2002 Hart Trophy winner.

On another night he might have recorded a hat trick. That's why the Leafs aren't panicking about his low production.

"He's a skilled guy, but he also works very hard," Phaneuf said. "It's not only his work ethic, its how he has a good stick and how he protects the puck in the corner and how he gets to the tough areas - the front of the net. He loves to compete. He's going to score goals for us. Right now they might not be going in, but one night they'll go in in bunches."

To watch Kulemin in practice is to see a young man who works on every facet of his game -- every day. He admittedly looks up to fellow Russian Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings, considered by some to be the most complete player in the NHL. Like Datsyuk, Kulemin takes particular pleasure in snatching pucks away from his opponents.

"I like the style (Pavel) Datsyuk plays and I watch him play a lot on TV," Kulemin said. "I like it when he steals pucks and I try to do the same."

The Leafs were counting on big things from the Grabovski-Kulemin-MacArthur line this season. Coach Ron Wilson even intimated they might just be the team's No. 1 unit when, at the end of the day, everyone knows that was not the case.

The NHL's leading scorer, Phil Kessel, along with winger Joffrey Lupul and whomever they play make up the No. 1 line, no questions asked.

Regardless, MacArthur thinks his group can get the job done and believes Kulemin is close to breaking out of his funk.

"He's taking the puck hard to the net and he's shooting it," MacArthur said. "I've been in a slump like that, too. Every guy can say he's gone through this. One thing that is good about him is he keeps going hard every day and he's still trying to get that goal. Hopefully it comes for him soon because he's earned it."

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.