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Leafs lose first game without Randy Carlyle behind the bench

dion phaneuf

TORONTO, ON - DECEMEBER 19: Dion Phaneuf #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs waits for a faceoff against the Phoenix Coyotes during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 19, 2013 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Coyotes 2-1 in an overtime shoot-out. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Claus Andersen

The Toronto Maple Leafs actually outshot the Washington Capitals. They actually had the edge in the puck possession numbers, according to hockeystats.ca.

But they didn’t win the actual game. And the tough times in Toronto continue. That’s five losses in the last six games for the Leafs, who have also been outscored 14-4 in the last three games - all defeats.

The Leafs, one day after firing Randy Carlyle and with all the drama unfolding around star Phil Kessel for his struggles, run-ins with a reporter and belief he can’t be coached, lost to the Capitals by a final score of 6-2 on Wednesday.

Difficult night for goalie Jonathan Bernier, who allowed five goals on 20 shots.

While Carlyle took his fare share of the blame on his way out of town, the core group of players in Toronto should also be feeling the heat.

“We outchanced them, we had good possession numbers, we outshot them ... We gave up poor, timely goals,” said Leafs’ interim head coach Peter Horachek, as per the club’s Twitter account.

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