Leafs are running out of time to fix this problem

"To see them on the outside looking in, the Leafs have competed hard, played structured hockey at times, and stolen points they arguably shouldn't have. They have gotten key contributions from players you wouldn't expect, but still sit towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Effort alone won't save a season. The one problem the Leafs are running out of time to fix is game-to-game consistency, particularly at five-on-five."

"Toronto will look disciplined, connected, and defensively sound one night, then unravel in the next game with sloppy turnovers, missed assignments, and long stretches of being pinned in their own zone. In a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, that kind of inconsistency is deadly. Inconsistent 5-on-5 play is costing points With Craig Berube behind the bench, the Maple Leafs have moved away from their full-offence style, which they had with Sheldon Keefe."

Injuries have not been the root cause of the Leafs' first-half struggles. The team has often competed hard, played structured hockey, and collected unexpected contributions, yet remains near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The principal issue is game-to-game inconsistency at five-on-five. Toronto can appear disciplined, connected, and defensively sound one night, then commit sloppy turnovers, miss assignments, and spend long stretches pinned in its own zone the next. The coaching change to Craig Berube brought a more defensive, playoff-style approach, but the team struggles to sustain offensive-zone pressure and frequently relies on goaltending or momentum swings to secure points. Time to fix consistency is limited.

Read at Editor In Leaf