The 8-7-1 Toronto Maple Leafs are going through an inconsistent stretch in November. The franchise has lost its last two games, against the Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins. After losing against Carolina, coach Craig Berube explained that Toronto’s main problem is the mentality. “For me, it’s just a mindset,” he said. “If you want to be a good defensive team, you’ve got to check, you’ve got to have good sticks, you’ve got to win battles, and you’ve got to have good structure. And right now, it’s a mindset for me. We don’t have any of that right now,” he added, via The Hockey News. The Maple Leafs were outshot against the Hurricanes (47-20), with multiple breakaways conceded in the second period. They can score, but they give up too many goals. Toronto must find consistency between its identity and the results. The team has a high offensive production, but its current identity prioritizes the highlight over the habit. Without defensive habits, any lead will continue to dissipate. Last year, the Maple
