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Painful Loss: Leafs ‘got tattooed’ by Blackhawks, according to their head coach

Mike Babcock

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock stands on the bench during the first period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

AP

No one expected the Toronto Maple Leafs to be in contention for a playoff spot this season, not even their new head coach.

Mike Babcock said these words the day he was hired by the club: “If you think there’s no pain coming, there’s pain coming.”

On Monday night, there was pain.

The Maple Leafs walked into the United Center and watch the Blackhawks jump out to a 7-0 lead through 50 minutes.

Toronto got two late goals to cut the deficit to 7-2, but needless to say, the damage was done.

Losing may have been part of the plan, but it doesn’t mean it’s not embarrassing.

“There’s no excuses for our team to lose like that,” said forward P.A. Parenteau, per Canoe.com. “We’ve got to come out harder than that. When you play a better team, you can’t use that as an excuse every night.”

The one good thing about this miserable season?

They’re putting themselves in prime position to land Auston Matthews in the draft.

Here’s what the bottom of the league standings look like this morning:

leafs

Babcock’s team has just three wins in their last 11 contests.