Don’t get too high with the highs. Don’t get too low with the lows.

Isn’t that what they always say when the team is on a high, or on a low?

The Maple Leafs were never as good as their 9-0-1 run might have indicated. And even through this 0-2-1 run, they’re not that bad.

Just trust that a goalie will eventually make a save.

But let’s not blame the goalies here. Frederik Andersen and Michael Hutchinson both took it on the chin in Sunday’s 8-4 loss to Florida. Both let in softies. Both know where they let they let their teammates down. They don’t need to be told.

The remarkable thing to me was how poor the passing was, especially through the neutral zone when the Leafs are on the attack.

Passing the puck weakly through traffic – a bad idea at the best of times – seemed to be the preferred choice at attempting to enter the neutral zone. It was befuddling.

The puck holder has a number of choices: Keep carrying the puck, or dump-and-chase, pass to an open man, or retreat.

I get that these are split-second decisions, but it struck me that the Leafs might have started believing the hype about themselves that they are such elite playmakers, they can make something out of nothing every time they touch the puck.

They made something, all right. A total disaster. Odd-man rushes the other way on a night when the goalies didn't have it.



Some might call that the return of Blue and White disease, that just because they wear the crest, they’re invincible.

I’m not there on that level of criticism. But they do seem convinced that every play needs to be of highlight reel quality. They made the the lowlights on Sunday.

On the goalies

Through the Leafs good run, Andersen would have saved a few of those Florida chances, and the four goals the Leafs scored would have been enough. I’m not particularly worried about Andersen. He’ll be fine over the course of the season.

(But if it makes you feel better, fret all you want about his workload.)

As for Hutchinson, I’m still not sold that he’s the answer as the backup, though I’m very happy for him that he’s picked up some wins. But I’m not sure who is the answer. I don’t think Joseph Woll – their top prospect in net -- is ready. Ian Scott, their No. 2 prospect, is out for the year. And Kasimir Kaskisuo doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence, though if he was the answer it would be a heck of a story.

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So a trade? Maybe. They have enough forwards to put together a package. Maybe Florida would part with Sam Montembeault ($708,750 cap hit) who has dropped to third string. Or maybe LA might part with Jack Campbell ($675,000). The cap hit needs to be cheap given the team's cap situation. GM Kyle Dubas has made trades with both teams before.

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