from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

For a moment, or three games anyhow, the Leafs looked unbeatable. The best, frankly, short-term, this franchise has looked in decades. Against the best player in the NHL. Against the defending Hart Trophy winner.

It was a quick flash as to what this team can be and what Sheldon Keefe wants them to be.

And that was it. A quick flash.

Lack of energy and interest cost them two games in Vancouver. Against Winnipeg, with three games back at home, they lost once to Connor Hellebuyck, they won once in overtime, barely. And then lost to themselves Saturday night against the Jets, failing to engage, failing to utilize their speed or their energy, never pushing back when it mattered most.

It’s too easy to pin this all on Frederik Andersen, especially when they won two of three games in Edmonton without him. Sure, Andersen has to be better — so does just about every Leaf.

Hockey is different from the other professional sports. Effort can be the difference between winning and losing. In hockey, the fight for the loose puck, like the battle for the loose ball in basketball, matters. I know coaches who firmly believe that the team that wins the loose-puck battle wins the majority of games.

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