The 4-1 loss to Carolina on Monday was an encapsulated example of frustration and lack of focus by the Maple Leafs, whose inconsistent effort and inability to put the puck in the net led to their second straight loss on home ice.

The Leafs had energy and a distinct advantage in the opening period, outshooting the Hurricanes 18-12 and taking the lead on Matt Frattin’s club leading fifth goal, but their advantage quickly dissipated, as they played possibly their worst twenty minutes of the young season, being outshot 20-5, turning over the puck with reckless abandon and showing shoddy defensive zone coverage.

Carolina tying goal was a direct result of blueliner John-Michael Liles’ inability to win the race for an icing call and four Leaf players drifting to his side of the ice to regain control of the puck, which left Jordan Staal all alone in front of James Reimer to score his first of the season.

The Leafs were particularly frustrated and undisciplined in the second period, taking four minor penalties. Jay McClement’s unsportsmanlike minor for spraying Carolina goalie Cam Ward with ice shavings led to the game winning goal midway through the middle frame, as Toronto’s penalty killers were unable to win the puck battle along the boards, leading to a turnover that caught both Dion Phaneuf and Mike Kostka out of position and Canes captain Eric Staal’s seventh of the year.

Penalties to Kostka and recent callup Korbinian Holzer in the final 45 seconds gave Carolina a 1:30 5 on 3 power play, which they took advantage of early in the third, as Justin Faulk’s shot snuck just over the red line to beat Reimer.

Patrick Dwyer scored the final goal for the Canes, who improve to 4-4-0 on the season.

Coach Randy Carlyle has to be concerned with his club’s performance personality disorder.

Toronto has thrived away from the Air Canada Center, going 3-1-0 with wins in Montreal, Buffalo and Pittsburgh, but are a baffling 1-4-0 at home, scoring just nine goals in five games.

Sportsnet's Chris Johnston pointed out an even more startling statistic regarding Toronto's horrific play at home. After winning 6-3 over Edmonton on Feb 6, 2012(which is exactly one calendar year tomorrow), the Leafs have played 17 games at the Air Canada Center.

Their record in those games is 3-12-3.

Is Toronto running into hot goaltending in every home game or are they just not converting on good scoring chances?

Ryan Miller was typically difficult to beat, making 34 saves in the Sabres 2-1 win, veteran Evgeni Nabakov allowed three in the first period but stopped 26 shots in the final 40 minutes in the Isles 7-4 comeback victory, Michal Neuvirth played well facing 40 shots in the Leafs only home victory, Boston’s defense suffocated any offensive attack and Tuukka Rask stopped 21 shots for his first shutout of the season and Cam Ward was brilliant in a 41 save effort.

The blame for this inability to convert cannot be directed solely at Phil Kessel, who has now gone scoreless in nine games, or team captain Dion Phaneuf, who has just one assist in nine games, but both are on the club's top power play, which continues to not get quality scoring chances and seems confused at times.

The Leafs are likely happy to take to the road and begin a three game road swing starting tonight against the Washington Capitals.

Playing on back to back nights, it is likely that Ben Scrivens will see action for the first time since January 25th, when he was pulled in the third period of the Islanders game after allowing five goals on 25 shots.

Carlyle decided to play Holzer last night after his recall on Sunday, sitting veteran Mike Komisarek, who by has been playing much better this season.

Holzer did not play well in his second NHL game and unless Komisarek is still hampered by his recent eye injury, it is likely he will play tonight.


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