If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan looking at the standings, you might feel better seeing that your team is in first place by a point. But the reality is much more frustrating. Yes, the Maple Leafs are ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers by just a point, but the Panthers have a game in hand. It’s also clear the Maple Leafs are far from playing like a team that deserves to be sitting at the top. Thursday’s 6-5 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks was yet another gut-wrenching reminder of how the team’s inconsistencies continue to plague it.

The Maple Leafs Fought Hard, But Seemed Snake-Bit

Sure, the Maple Leafs fought back hard against the Sharks, mounting a dramatic late-game push to tie things up. That said, the team shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place. Watching Joseph Woll essentially “park the puck” in his own net was a bizarre moment that felt like a microcosm of the chaos that unfolded.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a goaltender have such a strange mishap. In the end, the Maple Leafs tie with the Sharks got them a point out of the game. Credit the Core Four for showing some fight. However, it’s hard to feel satisfied as a fan knowing how important this game was. The team lost by just a goal, for the second time in a few weeks, to a young, energetic Sharks team that had been off for several days. They showed pushback, but the fact that it came down to a shootout after a sloppy game like this is beyond frustrating.

The Bottom Line, There’s More Work to Do with This Team

While the point helps the Maple Leafs hold onto their slim lead, the overall performance leaves much to be desired. This was another game where the Maple Leafs couldn’t close it out. Now, with the playoffs looming, consistency will need to be the focus. 

Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares can only do so much if the team can’t find a way to keep their foot on the gas. Or, better yet, come out and play some solid defense. These games are frustrating and make fans wonder why a team with so much talent can’t also show up when they need to and start playing with more purpose right from the first puck drop.

Related: Matt Murray In Maple Leafs Net: Stranger Things Have Happened