November not to remember

By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun
Just when did that Maple Leafs logo on Curtis Joseph's jersey turn into a target?

It must feel that way lately for Joseph and fellow Leafs goaltender Glenn Healy, who have faced more than their fair share of rubber in the past month.

The Leafs' 11 points from their past 10 games may disguise how the team has struggled at times.

Consider that the Leafs have been outshot nine times in those 10 games, including their past eight outings. While shots on goal can be a misleading statistic, there is little doubt a disturbing trend is emerging.

Only once in their past six games have Leafs snipers mustered more than 20 shots. Joseph, meanwhile, has been left to face 30 or more shots in four of those six outings.

Part of the problem comes from the Leafs' penchant for unexplained defensive letdowns.

General manager/coach Pat Quinn only wishes he had a solution.

"What causes a guy to just drift away in the play like we've been doing?" Quinn asked. "It's not that they're not trying to get back, yet we continue to do it.

"I'm always searching for answers."

Looking back, it will be a November to remember only when it comes to Toronto's defensive lapses.

n Nov. 20: The Leafs blow a 3-0 lead before Igor Korolev's overtime goal gives Toronto a 4-3 victory over the Rangers.

n Nov. 17: Defenceman Tomas Kaberle gets caught pinching, allowing Pierre Turgeon to set up Terry Yake on a 2-on-1 for the winning goal with just one minute remaining for a 3-2 St. Louis win.

n Nov. 11: Toronto builds a 3-1 lead only to have former Leaf Dave Andreychuk score twice in the third to send the game to overtime. P.J. Axelsson seals Boston's 4-3 overtime win.

n Nov. 6: Mats Sundin puts the Leafs up 3-2 in the third only to see Devils rookie Scott Gomez tie the game late in the period. Joseph's heroics in overtime keep the Leafs from losing.

n Nov. 5: The Leafs come out snoozing in the first period and quickly find themselves down 3-0. After Toronto battles back to tie the game, the Capitals score twice in the third for a 5-3 victory.

"Not to try to find excuses but in the past few weeks our schedule has been the hardest I've seen so far," captain Mats Sundin said. "It seems at times we've been playing every second night."

Sundin has a point. Saturday's triumph over the Rangers completed a span of 10 games in 22 days for the Leafs.

"We have to play with some urgency," Sundin said. "We've been struggling. We have to eliminate some of the sloppy play."

The Leafs this week embark on a two-game trip through Pennsylvania with stops in Pittsburgh tomorrow and Philadelphia on Friday. Toronto defeated the same two teams in the 1999 playoffs before bowing out to the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference final.

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