Sloppiness catches up with Leafs

By TIM WHARNSBY -- Toronto Sun
BOSTON -- There were warning signs the Maple Leafs' three-game winless skid would happen.

During a five-game winning streak that ended last Friday, the results were masking some poor habits that had crept in to the Leafs' play.

They were careless during a 4-0 win against Atlanta two weeks ago. They took the third period off against Calgary in a 2-1 victory 10 days ago.

Only the Leafs' near-perfect 6-0 win over Carolina last Wednesday stopped the bleeding before a 5-3 loss to Washington, a 3-3 tie Saturday with New Jersey and 2-0 loss Tuesday to Anaheim brought the Leafs back down to ice level.

Heck, Leafs general manager/coach Pat Quinn said his club even has been practising poorly.

"We felt like we were the Globetrotters against Carolina," Quinn said. "It happens with success. It's human nature. Suddenly, we had this good one and we thought everything was okay."

Under Quinn, who will coach his 100th Leafs game tonight, the team has not had a winless streak longer than three games.

Now the Leafs need to prove they can beat these close-checking teams. The Mighty Ducks held Toronto to 19 shots -- its lowest total of the season -- and just seven scoring chances.

While the Bruins were listless in a 4-0 loss in Toronto on Oct. 4, they can be just as stingy. They gave captain Mats Sundin and his teammates fits with their smothering play last season.

"We know if they get the lead we have to get some pressure on their defence," said Garry Valk, who won't play tonight because of an elbow injury.

The Leafs also have to realize when the door to the opposition's end is closed, they have to dump in the puck as opposed to turning it over at the blue line.

"We know (the Bruins) are going to come and check you and try to take the puck off you," Quinn said. "Hopefully that will rally us up a bit.

"If we don't start moving the puck and if we start playing individual like we have been, they will eat us up. If we respond right and say 'we have to move the puck in order to beat this club,' it will be a good step for us."

The Mighty Ducks outing was by far the Leafs worst of this young season.

"It was like we played a ghost team," Quinn said. "They came in here and took a couple of points and we didn't even know we were in a game. It's like watching television in your living room while the burglar is your bedroom going through your stuff."

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