Leafs already feeling added urgency after ‘unacceptable’ opener

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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The Maple Leafs held a team meeting on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena. 

Sheldon Keefe called Toronto's performance in the season opener "unacceptable." How did the coach deal with the team in the aftermath of the disappointing debut? 

"There was lots said."

How did the players respond?

"We'll find out tonight," Keefe said succinctly. 

The cap-strapped Leafs don't have any health scratches, so there will be no fresh bodies in the lineup against the Washington Capitals. And there will be no line juggling from the coach, either. 

"No, no changes," Keefe confirmed. "Just in our mindset and execution."

Toronto's regular-season goal, as stated by general manager Kyle Dubas on Day 1 of training camp, is to finish first in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs finished second last season in part because they started slow (2-4-1) and squandered points against non-playoff teams.

They are determined to turn the page on those mistakes, which is what made Wednesday's performance so baffling. 

"Really, there's no real explanation," admitted veteran defenceman Mark Giordano. "We just have to have a way better mindset when it comes to certain situations when you know you're not going to be able to make plays or, you know, at different times in the game when there's going to be momentum swings. We have to manage that way better than we did last night."

The coaching staff had stressed that Montreal would be dangerous in transition, but the players didn't heed the warning. Even after getting a late goal to tie things up, the Leafs could not survive the final minute and get to overtime.  

"Puck management is the biggest thing we have to improve on," said winger William Nylander. "That should be one of our