Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Some fans might have been optimistic prior to the road trip, but a stretch through California has left no doubt that the Toronto Maple Leafs are not a playoff team.
The Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks swept the Maple Leafs for three victories and combined to outscore Toronto by a total of 9-1. It has been an ugly four-game road trip for the Maple Leafs that doesn’t wrap up until after a visit with the St. Louis Blues.
Nobody expected the Maple Leafs to come out of California with a winning record, but it’s safe to say most thought the club would score more than a single goal and perhaps even steal one victory. The new defensive style Toronto is playing with has clearly limited the club’s offensive opportunities as the players learn to adjust to the new style of play.
Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t have dried up at a worse time given the quality of opponents on the schedule and the surging clubs around the Maple Leafs in the standings. It wasn’t that long ago that Toronto sat in the first wild card position in the East, but they now trail the second wild card spot held by the New York Rangers by five points and the Rangers have played four fewer games than the Maple Leafs.
Toronto also seems to lose a player every game now as Leo Komarov, Joffrey Lupul, David Booth and Peter Holland have all been forced out of the lineup due to various injuries. With the Maple Leafs missing an entire line of forwards, the team’s depth has taken a huge hit and it shows in the standings. With some players not expected back any time soon, the lack of scoring and inconsistent performances will likely continue.
The Maple Leafs have only won once in the New Year and only three times in their past 14 games. Toronto has quickly fallen out of a playoff position, and their recent play against the trio from California proves this team doesn’t have the depth with a depleted lineup to make a run for the playoffs.
