With a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night the Toronto Maple Leafs have now dropped six of their last seven games.
Scoring, or a lack thereof, has been a central theme to the Maple Leafs’ recent woes. They’ve scored just eight goals in that seven game span.
Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock addressed the club’s recent slide in his post-game press conference, intimating that the no one should be surprised by the lack of offence, especially in light of the recent loss of its second leading goal scorer, James van Riemsdyk.
“What are you expecting? I think these forwards are doing what they do, how many guys really score? Let’s grind let’s play… James [van Riemsdyk] scored, right?.. Who else? Let’s go to work, let’s just find ways to win games. It’s not going to be pretty but I don’t think that surprises anybody,” Babcock said.
Only the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Ducks have scored fewer goals than the Maple Leafs so far in the 2015-16 season.
Babcock likes his club’s effort, but the results just aren’t there.
“I’d like to win it,” Babcock said. “If we both got five shots on net and we won it I’d be pumped, doesn’t much matter to me… I think our team worked hard, we’re trying to maximize our group with what we’re doing. We’re trying to make it as hard as we can.”
The Maple Leafs are tied with the Detroit Red Wings, Hurricanes, and Flyers for the most overtime losses with eight.
Asked if he likes 3-on-3 overtime, Babcock offered a brief response before calling it a night.
“We don’t win enough. I like winning, that’s how I measure my enjoyment.”
