Consistency issues in Toronto persist and head coach Sheldon Keefe appears frustrated

The Toronto Maple Leafs, hot off of a 5-game winning streak, closed out their homestand against the visiting Los Angeles Kings, hot off of a 4-game winning streak of their own on Monday night, albeit in a losing effort.

The Leafs were blown out 5-1 at Scotiabank Arena, halting their streak at 5 and raising more questions about the team's ability to consistently start on time, which has led to a fairly disappointing 7-5-1 start.

This seems like a common problem for the team for one reason or another, and one that doesn't appear to have a simple solution. Just how much of an issue is it? Well, when your head coach is scratching his head and telling the media that he is "perplexed" by it, there may be some cause for concern.

"What I'm perplexed by is the start, why we can't come out and assert ourselves and have urgency and have pace, just let people fly through the neutral zone and get to our net. It's not good enough. The opposition doesn't give us that. We don't get free passes."

It's those types of efforts that have led to five consecutive early playoff eliminations, and what Keefe has been trying to instill into the group is that Stanley Cup winning habits are formed during the regular season. If the team can't show up and start on time, they're not going to have any real success to speak of. Not in the regular season, not in the postseason.

Management has really gone to bat for this core, keeping them intact while just about everyone else in the hockey world deemed it essential to move out one of the big four contracts to balance out the roster, rather than leaving a top-heavy group to try to outscore their problems.

It will be interesting to see how long of a leash that GM Kyle Dubas and President Brendan Shanahan gives the players before realizing what many have suspected - that short of a major change, this group may not have what it takes to get the job done. At least not from a consistency standpoint.

MUST READ

2 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Metropolitan Team Acquires Young First-Round Pick From the Nashville Predators

2 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Former Sharks Defenseman Doug Murray Shares Incredible Story About Joe Thornton's Generosity

3 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Shocking Turn of Events in New York: Former 50-Goal Scorer Placed on the Trade Block

4 hours ago  |  By Julien Trekker Longtime NHL Referee Mike Hasenfratz Tragically Passes Away at the Age of 58

5 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch NHL Hopeful Colin Brown Critically Injured in St. Louis Shooting: Community Rallies

8 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Don Cherry Brutally Calls Out Darnell Nurse for Actions Leading to Ryan Reaves' Suspension

9 hours ago  |  By Tyler Ball Columbus Blue Jackets Linked in Trade to 75-Point Scorer by NHL Writer

21 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Unforeseen Events Nearly Force Toronto Maple Leafs vs Utah Hockey Club Game to be Postponed

MORE STORIES