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Carlyle: Leafs need to be better, or ‘we’re not going anywhere’

Boston Bruins v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 6: Coach Randy Carlyle of the Toronto Maple Leafs yells from the bench against the Boston Bruins during NHL action at the Air Canada Centre March 6, 2012 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)

Abelimages

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been badly outplayed in their last two games. They were fortunate to lose just one of them.

Even with a spot in the playoffs pretty much assured, Leafs coach Randy Carlyle knows his team needs to be better, starting tonight at home to the Islanders.

“We need to play a better brand of hockey than we did in the last six periods,” said Carlyle, per the Globe and Mail’s James Mirtle.

“Or we’re not going anywhere.”

On Monday, the Leafs managed to beat a “cursed” Devils team, 2-0, despite being out-shot 31-13. (It was the second time this season that Toronto had won a game with 13 shots.)

But Tuesday in Washington, the Leafs’ luck ran out. The Capitals smoked them, 5-1.

Toronto can clinch its first playoff appearance since 2004 with a win over the Isles combined with a regulation loss by the Jets against Carolina.

The Leafs are likely to play either Boston or Montreal in the first round.