Curtis McElhinney likened a crucial in-game lapse to a common recurring dream.
"I guess we got caught with our pants down and it ended up costing us the game," the Toronto Maple Leafs backup goaltender told reporters, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton, after the Anaheim Ducks scored twice in a 16-second span in the second period to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish in a 5-2 victory.
Jakob Silfverberg tied the contest and Rickard Rakell gave the Ducks a 3-2 advantage with his second goal of the game and 26th of the season.
Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock wasn't thrilled about the defensive breakdowns that he believes led to a trio of Anaheim goals.
Babcock says Leafs gave Ducks three "free goals" tonight; "That part was disappointing"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 4, 2017
"I didn't like the free goals we gave them," Babcock said, according to Postmedia's Terry Koshan. "The NHL is too good a league to think you are going to outscore your mistakes."
The Leafs were swept on their three-game west coast road trip and have lost five straight games, with only three wins in the last 10 and five in the last 18.
With 18 games left in the regular season, Sports Club Stats gives them about a 43 percent chance of making the playoffs.
Toronto was leapfrogged by the New York Islanders - who earned a point in a shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks - for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot Friday night. The Islanders now have a one-point edge for the final playoff berth with a game in hand.
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