Just two hours before the game, Joffrey Lupul told reporters that he and his teammates were ?excited? to measure themselves against the Chicago Blackhawks.
?One of (our) strengths is that we believe that we can go in and outwork hockey clubs and I don?t think we outworked the Chicago Blackhawks tonight,? said Leafs coach Randy Carlyle.
While few expected Toronto to come in to a tough building and steal two points, the coach expected his players to put in an honest effort ? at minimum.
Hard work was a hallmark of last year?s Leafs...That relentlessness hasn?t been present on a consistent enough basis during a recent stretch of games...
?We?ve got a lot better than that,? said Leafs winger Nazem Kadri...That?s not our identity.?
an array of injuries have kept Carlyle from finding any discernible chemistry throughout his forward units.
On the ice, that has translated to an inability to control the puck in the offensive zone for any meaningful length of time.
There has been little or no evidence of a cycle game so far this year.
...poor decision-making in the neutral zone, the Leafs have been getting outshot consistently...they?ve been forced into chasing the game rather than dictating the pace.
?That?s the million dollar question I think right now,? said top-line winger James van Riemsdyk. ?I don?t know if it?s a mindset or what it is, but we just haven?t been able to do it.?
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/leafs-dont-measure-up-vs-defending-champs/