Toronto Maple Leafs learning to deal with having a target on their back
TORONTO — Mike Babcock says life at the top isn’t for everyone.
The head coach of the Maple Leafs no doubt enjoyed his team’s fast start to the season — an early surge that saw Toronto score an NHL-high 33 goals in racing out to six victories in seven games for what was at the time the NHL’s best record.
But after consecutive home losses where they found the back of the opposition net just once, the Leafs are learning that having a target on their collective back as headline-grabbing Stanley Cup contenders makes the schedule’s daily grind all the more difficult.
“Everyone wants to be the best,” Babcock said after Tuesday’s practice. “That means bringing it every day. That means you’ve got to do your part every single day.