Why do the Leafs struggle against the NHL’s worst teams?

At this point of the season, teams are gearing up for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, trying to prove they are legitimate threats to make a deep run in the spring.

However, the Toronto Maple Leafs are showing signs of weakness against some of the weakest teams in the NHL.

Despite a valiant comeback effort and grabbing a point with a shootout loss, the Maple Leafs still suffered a defeat at the hands of the San Jose Sharks – the last-place team in the NHL. It resulted in the Sharks completing the season sweep of Toronto, as they also beat them at Scotiabank Arena earlier this season.

On top of that, the Leafs have also been on the wrong end of final scorers against the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins, teams that, on paper, the Leafs should be able to take care of. Giving up points to lower-tier teams for a squad that is trying to win the division could affect who they play in the opening round of the postseason.

On Friday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discussed the level of concern surrounding the Leafs in their inability to beat some of the NHL’s worst teams.

Frank Seravalli: The Leafs have lost twice to the Sharks and to the Nashville Predators in one month of time – that’s a lot. It shouldn’t happen for a team that’s trying to challenge for a division and upend what this bracket looks like. When you think about those games, and yeah, the Leafs do end up getting a point, but when you think about those games and how they add up…those are the types of points that, if the Leafs are out in the first round again, or whatever the situation looks like, they’re going to rue those missed opportunities, because what you could have is a totally different matchup in round one. You could get the Ottawa Senators, and always be careful what you wish for.

Look, it’s not pretty, and I think that is the perfect lead into our inner and outer circle Stanley Cup contenders…I like where the Leafs are at. I think this is the best constructed Leaf team that they’ve had over the last six years, but I just don’t have them as an authentic inner-circle contender.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…