Maple Leafs losing the right way; these days, that's progress

Used to be the Maple Leafs won the wrong way. Now, they're losing the right way.

Since the Stanley Cup is not on the line, we'll call it progress.

The last four years, the Leafs have been among those teams that got off to hot starts, then tailed off. Three of those four years, they missed the playoffs.

The trend in those four years was to be outshot, out-chanced, out-everythinged, really, except out-scored. Inevitably, the bad habits that went with being an opportunistic team that traded chances simply caught up with them.

Phil Kessel couldn't (or wouldn't) forecheck. But, boy, could he score on a 2-on-1.

When the games got tighter later in the season, the Leafs version of hockey simply wasn't good enough.

Now Mike Babcock has the Leafs playing the right way. The Maple Leafs are averaging 33.9 shots per game, tied for the second-highest total in the NHL.

And on Saturday night, the Maple Leafs registered 52 shots on goal – the first time they have eclipsed the 50-shot mark since Jan. 8, 2010, at Buffalo (50) -- and they lost.

The Leafs are taking 56.35 per cent of all shots if the game is close or tied in the third period. They were the fourth-worst in this enhanced stat category last year, second worst the year before and dead last three seasons ago.

In other words, they're dominating play. They're just not scoring.

Take Nazem Kadri. His 32 shots on goal are tied for the ninth-highest total in the NHL this season. He has one goal to show for it, or, if you like, he has a 3.1 shooting percentage, well off his 12.0 per cent career number.

Yes, they're playing the right way. Wins will come. If not this year, then perhaps next.

Until then they will lead the league in moral victories.

GOT A QUESTION? Email me at askkevinmcgran@gmail.com and I'll answer it in Friday's blog.