ANAHEIM – It was about the moment Randy Carlyle felt his team slipping. His Maple Leafs beat the Ducks on a mid-December night in a manner that had become the worrying custom during his nearly three-season rule: Torontos potent offence pumped six past Frederik Andersen and Jonathan Bernier stopped 40 of 42 shots. The process was wrong, but the result right in what was a sixth straight win and the final bullet in an all too misleading 10-1-1 run. One month later with Carlyle since fired (his concerns proving prescient) and the Leafs are beginning to get that process right, but not yet finding those results. Luck is suddenly churning against the luckiest of teams. Its funny we were just talking about that, Daniel Winnik said after a 4-0 loss in Anaheim, how we used to give up 40 shots and wed win games and now were holding teams to under 25 and were losing. It was the third loss in four games since the coaching change – which saw Peter Horachek gain control – and 10th in the past 13 overall for the Leafs. It was also the second time in as many nights in Southern California that a usually powerful offence was shut out. Unlike that earlier win over Anaheim though – in which Berniers brilliance prevailed – the Leafs actually played fine in this most recent test against a beast of the West, but they couldnt beat Andersen and were undone by a couple bad breaks and the ferocity of Corey Perry. They continue to play in a manner thats conducive to long-term success, even if the results arent showing up in the short-term. The chances are maybe less, but were giving up a lot less, said a noticeably frustrated Horachek. Forty shots as opposed to 25 is a big difference. The Leafs are finally thinking defence first under his direction, even if that costs them a chance at some extra offence. Its a matter of continuing to play that way even when the results arent showing. The way were playing I think more often than not youre going win games more than you lose, Winnik observed. All too lucky often during that smoke and mirrors run of late 2014 – and well before that – the Leafs have seen that luck run out recently. Theyve scored two or less in five of the past six games, getting next to nothing on a usually potent power-play. They played it tight again on Wednesday, but slipped up just enough to lose the game. Anaheim scored the opener at the tail-end of a full two minute, five-on-three advantage, adding three straight from Perry. The former Hart Trophy champ scored his first of the night on a shot that clipped the right skate of Cody Franson. His second of the evening was a breakaway the Leafs believed adamantly was offside, his third plunging into an empty net, Ducks fans howling furiously in anticipation. Its a frustrating night, thats for sure, Franson said. I thought we played a pretty strong systematic game. We kept a very good, solid offensive team to 25 shots. Systematically I think were doing a lot of good things and stuff that we can continually build on. Weve definitely got some tough puck luck right now and its frustrating, but weve got to stick with it and continually move forward. For all the improvement theyve managed under the new bench boss though, the Leafs need to start making that process work toward some result and soon. They sit two points back of Florida and five points back of Boston for the final wild card spot in the East. Five Points 1. Dry Spell The Leafs were the luckiest team in the league when they rung off 10 wins in 12 games, burning with an on-ice shooting percentage of more than 14 percent and a PDO of 108 (anything above 100 registering as lucky). That luck has turned in the past couple weeks. Suddenly the chances Toronto is managing arent falling and while playing to a tighter brand the quantity of chances has diminished. Weve been happy with our process of how weve been doing things, weve just got to capitalize on our chances, James van Riemsdyk said. Were not probably trading as many chances now so youre going to really have to bear down on the ones you go get. Once the highest-scoring team in the league the Leafs have fallen to fifth at 3.04 goals per game. Theyve managed just nine in the past six games. Well find ways to score, van Riemsdyk added. We have a lot of firepower. Well find ways to score. 2. Shot Suppression Toronto managed something in defeat that it never could under Carlyles direction. They held an opponent under 30 shots for the fourth consecutive game, the Ducks managing just 25 on Jonathan Bernier. That didnt happen once with Carlyle at the helm, achieved in Horacheks first four games behind the bench. The Leafs have given up less than 23 shots per game since Horachek was moved into the head coaching role. Given the light night for his no. 1 goaltender, Horachek may opt to go back to Bernier in San Jose on Thursday night. He wouldnt commit to using James Reimer prior to Wednesdays game. Sometimes you look at situations where you think you want to get your other goalie in...and a lot of times that is on back-to-backs, Horachek said. Clearly thats a good time to do it, but sometimes you need to get the points and you need to balance that as well. 3. Concussed David Booth was on the ice about 20 minutes before the Leafs morning skate was due to kick off on Wednesday. He was alone on the Honda Centre surface, putting in extra skating and getting up a few extra shots. Booth left the building later that night with an apparent concussion. The 30-year-old took a Sami Vatanen elbow to the face during the third period, wobbling nervously around the ice afterward. He required help from teammates and then team trainers to get to Torontos dressing room. Horachek offered no update on his status after the game. Booth has a notable concussion history. He missed 54 games combined with two separate concussions during the 2009-10 season. 4. Road Swoon The Leafs are nearing the middle of a hellish stretch that sees them play 17 times on the road in 22 games. So far, not so good. Theyve now lost eight of the past 10 in visiting confines, facing tall tests in San Jose (Thursday) and St. Louis (Saturday) in the coming days. Their seven road wins this season are more than only the Sabres, Hurricanes and Flyers in the Eastern Conference. 5. Lost Teeth & Stitches Roman Polak lost two teeth and needed more than 20 stitches to repair the damage he suffered last week. Polak took a Troy Brouwer blast to the face a week ago, unbelievably returning to action that night with a badly swollen right cheek. I think adrenaline was up so I didnt feel it, he said. Polak couldnt speak much for days after the initial blow and there was a brief time when he struggled to see out of one eye. But against the advice of the team he decided to play without a cage or visor in the days that followed. He tried them briefly, hated how they affected his vision and ditched it thereafter. The 28-year-old called the overall experience awful, not exactly horrified though at how the initial damage caused his face to look though. I thought it was going to be worse than that, Polak said. I think I can still do my modeling career after I retire. Stats-Pack 2-8-0 – Leafs record in their past 10 games on the road. 4 – Consecutive games in which the Leafs have held an opponent under 30 shots. 22.75 – Average shots against the Leafs in four games with Peter Horachek behind the bench. 1:54 – Ice-time for Daniel Winnik during a two-minute five-on-three Ducks power-play. 1.5 – Goals per game for the Leafs in their past six. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-3 Season: 19.9% (11th) PK: 1-2 Season: 81.8% (13th) Quote of the Night The chances are maybe less, but were giving up a lot less. Forty shots as opposed to 25 is a big difference. -Peter Horachek after a 4-0 loss in Anaheim. Up Next The Leafs visit the Sharks on Thursday night. China Jerseys Stitched . -- Theres nothing like winning to bring hope for a struggling team. China Jerseys Wholesale . LOUIS -- Russell Martin wanted a better fate for his starting pitcher and helped deliver a happier ending. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ .C. - The housecleaning continues for the B. Cheap Jerseys From China .I shared with him how much I appreciated all he had done for us, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said of that Thursday night farewell. Fake China Jerseys . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit. TORONTO -- Toronto Marlies goaltender Drew MacIntyre had a bad taste in his mouth following last seasons second round exit to the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 30-year-old goalie has been stellar in this years Calder Cup playoffs and as he did in the first-round clinching game, MacIntyre posted a 30-save shutout on Friday as Toronto blanked the Chicago Wolves 4-0. The Marlies swept their best-of-seven series with Chicago and advanced to the Western Conference final for the second time in three seasons. "Ill take anything in a clinching game as long as its a win," said MacIntyre, who has back-stopped the Marlies to a perfect 7-0 record while posting a 1.85 goals-against average. "Tonight the guys were amazing. We battled and battled. The third period we stuck to our game plan and we didnt give them anything." Greg McKegg, Carter Ashton and Peter Holland scored for Toronto, while Korbinian Holzer added an empty-net goal with 4.7 seconds remaining. Heading into Game 4, Marlies coach Steve Spott put forward Sam Carrick on the teams top line with Holland and Ashton in place of a struggling Spencer Abbott. The move paid off as the line combined for five points in the win. "Just trying to find different chemistry. Spencer, since hes come back from his (shoulder) injury, probably isnt where he wants to be or where we need him to be," said Spott. "Just trying to find a different adjustment and obviously make it a little bit tougher on opposing coaches for line match ups. "Some times you get it right. Sammy Carrick, weve talked about Sam a lot this year and there he is again on our first line. Hes had a heck of a year so far." Jake Allen stopped 25 shots for Chicago. McKegg opened the scoring at 7:51 of the first, beating Allen with a wrist shot from the top of the face-off circle for his third of the playoffs. Frazer McLaren and T.J. Brennan drew assists on the goal for Toronto, who have scored first in all seven playoff games to date. Abbott nearly made it 2-0 at 9:31 of the first, on a Marlies power play, as his point shot got behind Allen, but hit the post. The goal light and horn went off, but following video review, it was determined the puck did not cross the goal-line.dddddddddddd Chicago had an excellent chance to find the equalizer late in the first with a 35-second two-man advantage. Wolves leading scorer Dmitrij Jaskin one-timed a Keith Aucoin pass but MacIntyre got just enough of it to keep it out. "Drew was real solid, he played to the level that we need him to play at and we knew that they were going to come, they pressed hard in the second period and he made a couple of outstanding saves," said Spott. "That short 5-on-3 where we needed him to be great, he stood tall and really gave us that emotion and life we needed." Ashton made it 2-0 at 2:46 of the second period blowing a slap shot, off a Carrick feed, past Allen for his second of the playoffs. Adam Cracknell had a good chance to get Chicago on the board at 4:42 of the second, from in close, but put his shot just wide. Carrick sprung Holland on a breakaway at 7:09 of the third period and the centre made no mistake beating Allen glove-side for his fourth of the playoffs. "(Carrick) works hard. Hes going to go get the puck, but hes also got good vision too, hes going to find you and I love playing with guys like that," said Holland. Added Carrick: "They both have NHL experience so I just try to keep things simple out there and play my game, go to the net hard and let them make the plays." Toronto now awaits the winner of the Texas-Grand Rapids series to determine their next opponent. The Western Conference Final is expected to start next weekend. The Marlies were a perfect 4-0-0 against the Griffins, the defending Calder Cup champion, during the regular season while going 2-1-0 in three meetings with the Stars. Notes: Marlies defenceman Andrew MacWilliam missed the game due to an upper body injury suffered in Wednesdays game. Kevin Marshall took the place of MacWilliam in the Marlies lineup. Spott said MacWilliam would benefit from the week off prior to the third round and should play in Game 1. Forward Frazer McLaren dressed in place of David Broll on Torontos fourth line. ' ' '