Maple Leafs defenceman Korbinian Holzer lays out forward Kyle Turris of the Ottawa Senators along the boards during last night's game at ScotiaBank Place. (DARREN BROWN/QMI Agency)
The Maple Leafs had to kick the Ottawa Senators while the hometown team was down.
But they didn’t, and that’s not a good sign going forward.
And the fact that Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Senators in Ottawa was one of the more sloppy efforts put forth by the Leafs this season only added to coach Randy Carlyle’s misery — especially in the second period when Toronto allowed numerous Senators odd-man rushes. The Sens’ late goal in the second, by Erik Condra when Ben Scrivens failed to control a rebound off a long shot, had to be a dagger in the heart for the Leafs coach.
Both teams have been snake-bit this season, but Ottawa especially so, and the Leafs had to take advantage of that. This was a Toronto team that had won four of five in Ottawa heading into Saturday’s game, and had outscored the Sens 11-1 in their past three meeting.
The Senators faced the Leafs without three stars — goaltender Craig Anderson (sprained ankle), forward Jason Spezza (back) and defenceman Erik Karlsson (sliced Achilles).
