Playoff chances fading quickly for Maple Leafs
Caps pull away in standings with victory
WASHINGTON Next season, whenever it should occur, essentially began early Sunday evening for the Toronto Maple Leafs after yet another defeat — this time 2-0 against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center.
Though still alive, mathematically, any reasonable hope of the Leafs ending their interminable playoff drought dissipated over the weekend with consecutive shutout losses to Philadelphia and Washington.
Mired in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, Toronto now trails the eighth- place Capitals by eight points with 13 games remaining, and Winnipeg, Buffalo and Tampa Bay stand between the Leafs and Washington.
With the 2012- 13 season threatened by labour strife, it is not clear when Brian Burke’s club will begin its next shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
While the Leafs have settled down defensively under new coach Randy Carlyle, their sticks went missing over the weekend.
Goals by Brooks Laich in the first period and Mathieu Perreault early in the third Sunday easily subdued the punchless visitors, who are now 2-12-2 in 16 games since Feb. 6.
Carlyle was asked if the club’s evolving defensive discipline has come at a cost.
“Are we sacrificing risk hockey for defence?” the coach said.
“Yeah, I think I’d agree with that, though we did generate a good number of scoring chances in the two games this weekend. We just need a bounce to go our way.”
As for the Maple Leafs’ razorthin playoff aspirations, Carlyle spoke non-specifically.
“These are tough, pressure games — the kind we have to learn how to win,” he said. “It’s the nature of the business to face pressure and attention in a hockey environment like Toronto, but we now move on to our next game.”
That occurs Tuesday night in Sunrise, Fla., against the third-place Panthers (7:30 p.m., RSO).
Another pattern developing under Carlyle is one of scant confidence in James Reimer, who has yet to see a minute of action since Ron Wilson was fired a week ago Friday. Even on teams with a clear No. 1 goalie it is extremely rare for a backup not to be called upon in games less than 24 hours apart.
Jonas Gustavsson, however, made his fifth consecutive appearance under Carlyle in Sunday’s game despite playing through 65 minutes and one round of shootout in Saturday’s 1- 0 loss to Philadelphia.
Whatever the case, Reimer must be wondering when, and if, he will finally play for his new coach. Carlyle, however, will not bow to perception.
“I’ll leave it up to (the media) to decide,” Carlyle said.
“What I’m doing is putting the goalie in that I feel gives us the best chance to win.”
Gustavsson allowed an iffy goal to Laich, who fooled him to the short side while the Leafs were on a power play in the first period.
He then inadvertently directed the puck to Perreault with his pad in the opening minute of the final frame.