from Sam Donnellon of the Philadelphia Daily News,

What's the polar opposite of a Gordie Howe hat trick? That's what Voracek had going in Thursday night's debilitating, 4-3 overtime loss to the NHL's worst team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He was part of blown coverage on the Leafs' first goal, leaving William Nylander alone with half a net to shoot at. Later, a flutter shot into traffic sprung Colin Greening for a breakaway and a 2-0, first-period lead.

Someone asked him whether he was feeling "a little unlucky" these days.

"I'm not gonna blame it on bounces," he said, but then he kind of did.

In just the first two periods, Voracek was minus-3. This, despite taking a team-high four shots in that span, spending 4:28 on the power play. All told, he had six shots on net, spent over five minutes on the power play, did not score, and was on the ice for all three Toronto goals in regulation.

I almost feel bad for writing this, because his heart and effort remain big. But at a juncture of the season when the difference in playoff life and death is the width of a skate edge, he's buckling on his blades big-time. And it's killing his team.

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Watch the game hignlights below...