The Maple Leafs had won six games in a row going into their game in Dallas and the hometown Stars appeared to be ready for the taking, having lost nine of their last 11 games, but the red-hot Toronto club put in a collective clunker, losing 7-1 at the American Airlines Center on Thursday.
The loss was not just a result of bad goaltending, defensive giveaways, bad special teams, lack of secondary scoring or fatigue. It was the perfect storm of all of those factors.
“Those are the things that bring you back to earth in a hurry.… Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said after the game. "This is the thud."
Goaltender Jonathan Bernier had won four games in a row coming into the contest, but he appeared shaky from the outset and was pulled at 6:36 of the second period after Dallas rookie Valeri Nichushkin scored to make it 3-1. James Reimer was just as bad in relief, as he allowed three more goals in the middle to put the game out of reach and four goals on the night on just 15 shots.
The Leafs defensive game was non-existent, as was apparent by the Stars opening goal in which Nazem Kadri made an ill-advised pass and Phil Kessel lost a battle for a puck prior to Jamie Benn firing it by Bernier. The Leafs top line of Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak was a collective -11 for the game and were held scoreless after registering 25 points in the last six games.
The fact that a photo of recently arrested pop star Justin Bieber and a video of disgraced Toronto mayor Rob Ford by the arena game ops received any notice was indicative of how little competition there was in the game.
The young pairing of Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner were victimized on Cody Eakin’s go ahead goal in the first and Nichushin’s goal early in the middle frame, while team captain Dion Phaneuf was caught sleeping on Shawn Horcoff’s goal to make it 4-1 and made a half-hearted effort to keep in the puck at the point that led to Rich Peverley’s short-handed goal.
Toronto was playing their fourth game in six nights and third straight road game, so the fatigue associated with playing and traveling from Toronto to Phoenix, Denver and Dallas has to be accounted for, but the Leafs dangerous traits were on full display in Dallas and their goaltending, top line and special teams were not there to save them.
Literally the only sign of life for the Leafs occurred after the outcome of the game was already decided, as enforcer Colton Orr labeled Eakin with a check and Nazem Kadri tussled with Stars pest Antoine Roussel.
Carlyle after the game stressed that the Leafs have to move past the disappointing effort on Thursday and prepare to bounce back in the final game of the road trip in Winnipeg.
“We can’t let this linger with our group.…Carlyle said. “Our mandate will be to get to Winnipeg tomorrow, we’ll get on the ice and we’ll practice and have a rebound game on Saturday night.…
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Per TSN 1050's Jonas Siegel, goalie Jonathan Bernier confirmed to reporters that he will not be starting Saturday night against Winnipeg, which means that Manitoba native James Reimer will be in goal.
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