TORONTO (Nov. 10) — If you have watched hockey long enough, there is no mistaking the markers of a team in a death-spiral, and the Maple Leafs are free-falling at the moment in the Eastern Conference. Having limped to a 1-6-3 record in their past 10 games, the Leafs are every bit as futile as they were at the beginning of last season, cushioned only by the eight points they accumulated at the start of the current schedule.

Hockey, when played at its highest level, is a game of tempo and reaction. Both traits were evident with the Blue & White in mid-October; how many of us can close our eyes and still see the Leafs skating the New York Rangers into the ground in the second period of that Friday-night game at Madison Square Garden? Believe it or not, most of the same players — led by the same coach — were on the ice at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa last night. But THAT group had all the speed, confidence and cohesion of a kids’ house-league team.

When hockey becomes a game of emotional endurance, as it is right now with the Leafs, the natural instincts that allowed players to reach this level are lost… not gone forever, but difficult to re-claim. These innate, fundamental qualities get trampled by anxiety and the anticipation of doom. Players won’t admit it, but a slump of this magnitude is an overwhelming burden to carry into a game. The first encounter with adversity is almost impossible to shake — witness the let-down after the failed 5-on-3 powerplay against the Lightning. Any such misfire in the opening 10 minutes will momentarily affect confidence, but it shouldn’t ruin the entire night.

The only remedy right now is a win… plain and simple. Moral victories like the one in Washington last week [three goals in 3:09 of the third period; an eventual shootout defeat] won’t cut it. The Leafs need to clear two points in a game very quickly. The longer it takes for that to happen, the harder it will be for the club to re-gain its apparent swagger — the one that was evident in the pre-season and opening week of the regular schedule.

Join me this afternoon at 2 o’clock EST at FAN590.com for a two-hour live chat on the plight of the Maple Leafs. I’m expecting a fair bit of emotion from those that follow the team.

E-mail [email protected]
Twitter: BergerFAN590

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» Roenick Remembers the "Dagger"

» Reminiscing With Hockey's Best-Ever Name

» Could Coyotes Howl North of Toronto?

» Leaf Fans Don't Know Pressure

» Could Lui Be Toronto-Bound?