"This was as unprofessional a performance as you'll see in the NHL from the Maple Leafs. It was an effort that screamed 'we are tired of this,' 'we have quit on the coach,' 'we have no pride,' or some combination of all of the above."
"I debated with myself for half of the game, wondering what Leaf loss in recent history was worse than this performance. The only one that sprang to mind was the 6-1 loss to Pittsburgh, marking the Leafs' fifth straight loss, right before the firing of Mike Babcock."
"The Leafs met in the playoffs last spring while mired in a run of poor results, it should go to the players' legs. Instead, the Leafs did not put another shot on net the rest of the period (17+ minutes). Their opponent, who likely won't make the playoffs this season, recorded 16 and tied the game."
The Maple Leafs suffered a catastrophic 5-2 defeat to Ottawa that exemplified a complete lack of professionalism and effort. This loss followed back-to-back defeats to division rivals and represented a performance comparable only to the 6-1 Pittsburgh loss preceding Mike Babcock's firing. Despite scoring on a power play in the first period, the Leafs failed to generate another shot for over 17 minutes while Ottawa recorded 16 shots and tied the game. The performance suggested players had quit on the coach and abandoned pride, with the team appearing completely tilted and unable to compete despite playing at home against a division rival during an existing losing streak.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
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