from Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun,

Not to sound too loud an alarm after Thursday’s 5-1 loss to Seattle, the Leafs’ first in regulation at home since Nov. 21, but if striving for top standing and a supposed easier round one playoff match, such hiccups make it much harder. Much better is required in the next three games before facing the Bruins on the road and back at Scotiabank Arena Feb. 1.

The Leafs started well against Seattle, but were out of sorts and behind again just 14 seconds after John Tavares’s 1-1 goal. They’ve surrendered 10 in regulation at SBA after the Blues’ shootout win earlier this week and some of the same troubling issues are re-surfacing.

“That adds to (unease),” alternate captain Morgan Rielly agreed. “You have a game like St. Louis, you want to respond, talk about things you can do better. Then when you go out and don’t exactly execute those, that’s definitely reason for concern.

“Generally speaking, we know we have better and that adds to the frustrations well. It’s about getting those things fixed.”

The Leafs aren’t getting out-played during a full 60 minutes, but foes with size, speed and four-line depth can neutralize Toronto’s vaunted offence, leading to problems elsewhere.

“The game is there for us,” Rielly said by way of example in the Seattle setback. “We just never really take it.”

Mitch Marner’s advice to his mates ahead of Saturday’s game against Detroit, which lost 3-2 to the visiting Florida Panthers on Friday night?

“Just relax, we know we’re a great team,” the all-star winger said. “(But) losing two in your building, you don’t want to give up as many goals as we have. We all have to help out more, support each other more.”

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