Third-period struggles persist as yet another lead slips away from Leafs
TORONTO — No team in the National Hockey League has entered the third period with a lead more times this season than the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The problem? The Leafs have closed those games out only 62.5 per cent of the time (10-1-5), the second-worst winning percentage in the league, better than only the Carolina Hurricanes (7-1-5).
Toronto saw a two-goal third-period lead disappear in two minutes and seven seconds at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night, the San Jose Sharks rallying to win 3-2 in a shootout.
“Well, it’s definitely frustrating, but at the same time it’s got to kind of be a message throughout the locker-room that that can’t happen,” said Auston Matthews, who notched his team-leading 13th goal as well as an assist in defeat.