Babcock ‘shocked’ by poor start as Leafs drop sixth in the last eight games
TORONTO — Mike Babcock said he was “shocked” by how his Maple Leafs started against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
The Sabres scored two goals — 55 seconds apart — before the Leafs even got their first shot at Robin Lehner, Morgan Rielly’s attempt coming more than nine minutes into the opening frame. Buffalo added another goal — the second of the night for Evander Kane — before the period was through.
“We weren’t ready to play any way you look at it,” Babcock said after a 3-1 loss, the sixth defeat in the last eight games for Toronto.
The Leafs are just holding onto the Eastern Conference’s final wild card spot with 61 points through 54 games. A flood of teams, now including the Sabres with 56 points, are nipping at their heels.