Jim Hiller admitted last night that the Maple Leafs were not good enough in a 4-0 loss to the Devils, their third straight defeat.
Toronto, now 8-9-2, was shut out at home on the second night of a back-to-back, one day after a 4-2 loss to Montreal. The Devils dominated the rest of the way once the game opened up.
"Not a good game for us," Hiller told reporters. He called the first period his team's best, though there wasn't much going on, which he figured probably helped Toronto. Then "once a couple of their top players broke loose, we had a hard time with them."
The Maple Leafs were without Jack Roslovic, who has 8 goals this season, and Hiller pointed to injuries and the back-to-back as reasons his team ran out of gas. Fair enough as context, but the standings don't care.
Morgan Rielly remains listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, expected to be out until at least Nov. 10. Mark Masters reported Saturday that Hiller called it a big blow, and we covered Morgan Rielly's lower-body injury update at the time. Rielly has 12 points in 18 games.
The opponent made it harder. New Jersey, under Sheldon Keefe, is 13-5-0 and has won five straight, and the Devils are 9-1-0 over their last 10 games.
Who has to step up for the Maple Leafs now?
Hiller's answer was aimed at two groups. "Some guys are getting more opportunity than they ever had. They've got to take advantage," he said. Then came the message for the veterans: "The other guys who are key leaders, they've got to make sure their game is up to par."
That's a coach telling his depth players the door is open and his core players that their names aren't enough. With Roslovic and Rielly out, there is no hiding behind the lineup card.
Toronto is 4-6-1 at home, and a 4-0 loss in front of its own fans is the kind of result that gets the room's attention. Hiller kept the tone calm. "It's a long season, and it's a hard stretch for us, no question," he said, adding that the NHL's good teams "keep coming."
The next one is Tuesday against Colorado, and the Maple Leafs are chasing a win to snap the skid.
Quick hits
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Owen Tippett says the Flyers are "playing a little bit scared" after their 4-3 overtime loss in Calgary. That's a blunt read from inside the room.
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FLORIDA PANTHERS: Brady Tkachuk dropped the gloves with Nikita Zadorov off the opening draw Sunday, and the Panthers' night in Boston only got uglier from there.
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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: Dan Kingerski posted this morning that Kris Letang was brutally honest after the Penguins' 5-2 loss in Anaheim. A veteran speaking plainly usually means the room is stewing.
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NEW YORK RANGERS: Marc Del Gaizo could slot into the blue line tonight in Edmonton, where Connor McDavid and the Oilers are waiting. Tough assignment for a lineup tweak.
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DETROIT RED WINGS: David Pagnotta says the price tag on Simon Edvinsson is extremely high, and that could keep the Red Wings standoff going.
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Is Jim Hiller leaning too hard on injuries and the back-to-back after a 4-0 loss to the Devils?
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