TORONTO - Under interim coach Peter Horachek, the Toronto Maple Leafs are a conundrum. Cheap New York Giants Jerseys . The defensive inconsistency that cost Randy Carlyle his job is mostly gone, but at the same time the goals have disappeared.When you think about it, if youre playing better defensively and youre giving up less chances, youre thinking youre going to be in a better position, Horachek said.Youd think that, but the Leafs have scored just seven goals during an embarrassing 0-7-1 slide, including just five at even strength. It has become a baffling stretch of a season thats beginning to look all too much like — to quote former Leafs GM Brian Burke — an 18-wheeler going off a cliff.If youre getting the same number of chances as we were when we were not playing as well defensively, you would think that the message should be: Just finish your chances, Horachek said after Thursdays 3-1 loss to the Coyotes. Because were not getting less chances, were getting the same number of chances.Injuries have played a role, but now that Joffrey Lupul is back and only captain Dion Phaneuf is missing, its no longer a valid excuse.Lupul returned Thursday night against Arizona after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. Forced to watch a lot of bad hockey, the winger saw improvement at one end of the ice but not much to show for it at the other.Our team game looks better, but individually were struggling to make the big play at the critical time, Lupul said. Were doing some things right, but obviously youve got to score goals.Phil Kessel scored his 20th of the season against Arizona, but it was also his first at even strength in 19 games dating to Dec. 16.Hopefully I can get going, Kessel said. Its frustrating right now.Kessel said he wasnt sure if his goal might jump-start the offence going into Saturdays game at the Philadelphia Flyers, the first of three straight on the road. As a team, hes not quite sure what the Leafs have to do to score.Youve got to bury it, right? Kessel said. I think weve got to get more bodies to the net and create more secondary chances. Get a break, once in a while. Get a good bounce. We dont seem to be getting them.Bad bounces are bothering the bewildered Leafs, but its more than that. Theyve struggled to score since Horachek arrived preaching a more defensively responsible style.Changing systems on the fly is guaranteed to cause some stumbling, but 14 goals in 10 games and only one victory to show for isnt what management wanted to see after firing Carlyle.Perhaps this should have been expected. When the Capitals visited for Horacheks debut, his friend and mentor Barry Trotz offered some thoughts on what happens early in a transition like this, similar to the one he made in Washington months ago.Theres growing pains because youre going to play really well, and even if youre playing well defensively you might not get the wins, Trotz said. You always get tested how far youre going to come off the rail, if you will, to have balance in your game.Balance has been difficult for the Leafs to find. Progress is being measured in tiny increments.In Wednesdays shootout loss at the New Jersey Devils, Horachek was glad his team didnt give up a first-period goal — which had been a trend — and didnt have to play catch-up. He was also satisfied with the quality of scoring chances.Were getting chances from the A areas, Horachek said. We have to spend more time in those areas, whatever you want to call it, the lions den, the house, and get more people in those areas.Sometimes when the goals arent going in, you have to get more of a greasy goal, youre going to have to get more of an ugly goal. Pucks are going (to have) to have more traffic and people slapping in a rebound or going off a skate and youre going to have to find ways to get it in.These Leafs are built more to score on the rush than from the side of the net. With goals hard to come by from anywhere, Lupul said that after a while Im sure guys lose their confidence.Horachek is trying to keep confidence up.You have to take solace in that and say, OK, its moving in the right direction, he said. Were going to stay course, believe in what were doing and hopefully things will be more favourable.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Dalvin Tomlinson Jersey .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft. D.J. Fluker Jersey . The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte.Ames, IA (SportsNetwork.com) - Bryce Dejean-Jones and Georges Niang had 27 and 26 points, respectively, and No. 20 Iowa State cruised past 18th-ranked Arkansas 95-77 on Thursday as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Dejean-Jones made all eight of his shots and went 4-of-4 from beyond the arc for the Cyclones (5-1), who have won 24 straight non-conference home games. Niang added eight assists and six rebounds. Olivier Vernon Jersey. . Dustin Hogue tallied 14 points for Iowa State, which shot 64 percent from the field and went 10-of-19 from 3-point range. Monte Morris and Naz Long had 11 and 10 points, respectively. Bobby Portis ended with 19 points and eight rebounds for the Razorbacks (6-1). Alandise Harris donated 15 points. 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TORONTO - Under interim coach Peter Horachek, the Toronto Maple Leafs are a conundrum. Cheap New York Giants Jerseys . The defensive inconsistency that cost Randy Carlyle his job is mostly gone, but at the same time the goals have disappeared.When you think about it, if youre playing better defensively and youre giving up less chances, youre thinking youre going to be in a better position, Horachek said.Youd think that, but the Leafs have scored just seven goals during an embarrassing 0-7-1 slide, including just five at even strength. It has become a baffling stretch of a season thats beginning to look all too much like — to quote former Leafs GM Brian Burke — an 18-wheeler going off a cliff.If youre getting the same number of chances as we were when we were not playing as well defensively, you would think that the message should be: Just finish your chances, Horachek said after Thursdays 3-1 loss to the Coyotes. Because were not getting less chances, were getting the same number of chances.Injuries have played a role, but now that Joffrey Lupul is back and only captain Dion Phaneuf is missing, its no longer a valid excuse.Lupul returned Thursday night against Arizona after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. Forced to watch a lot of bad hockey, the winger saw improvement at one end of the ice but not much to show for it at the other.Our team game looks better, but individually were struggling to make the big play at the critical time, Lupul said. Were doing some things right, but obviously youve got to score goals.Phil Kessel scored his 20th of the season against Arizona, but it was also his first at even strength in 19 games dating to Dec. 16.Hopefully I can get going, Kessel said. Its frustrating right now.Kessel said he wasnt sure if his goal might jump-start the offence going into Saturdays game at the Philadelphia Flyers, the first of three straight on the road. As a team, hes not quite sure what the Leafs have to do to score.Youve got to bury it, right? Kessel said. I think weve got to get more bodies to the net and create more secondary chances. Get a break, once in a while. Get a good bounce. We dont seem to be getting them.Bad bounces are bothering the bewildered Leafs, but its more than that. Theyve struggled to score since Horachek arrived preaching a more defensively responsible style.Changing systems on the fly is guaranteed to cause some stumbling, but 14 goals in 10 games and only one victory to show for isnt what management wanted to see after firing Carlyle.Perhaps this should have been expected. When the Capitals visited for Horacheks debut, his friend and mentor Barry Trotz offered some thoughts on what happens early in a transition like this, similar to the one he made in Washington months ago.Theres growing pains because youre going to play really well, and even if youre playing well defensively you might not get the wins, Trotz said. You always get tested how far youre going to come off the rail, if you will, to have balance in your game.Balance has been difficult for the Leafs to find. Progress is being measured in tiny increments.In Wednesdays shootout loss at the New Jersey Devils, Horachek was glad his team didnt give up a first-period goal — which had been a trend — and didnt have to play catch-up. He was also satisfied with the quality of scoring chances.Were getting chances from the A areas, Horachek said. We have to spend more time in those areas, whatever you want to call it, the lions den, the house, and get more people in those areas.Sometimes when the goals arent going in, you have to get more of a greasy goal, youre going to have to get more of an ugly goal. Pucks are going (to have) to have more traffic and people slapping in a rebound or going off a skate and youre going to have to find ways to get it in.These Leafs are built more to score on the rush than from the side of the net. With goals hard to come by from anywhere, Lupul said that after a while Im sure guys lose their confidence.Horachek is trying to keep confidence up.You have to take solace in that and say, OK, its moving in the right direction, he said. Were going to stay course, believe in what were doing and hopefully things will be more favourable.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Dalvin Tomlinson Jersey .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft. D.J. Fluker Jersey . The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte.Ames, IA (SportsNetwork.com) - Bryce Dejean-Jones and Georges Niang had 27 and 26 points, respectively, and No. 20 Iowa State cruised past 18th-ranked Arkansas 95-77 on Thursday as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Dejean-Jones made all eight of his shots and went 4-of-4 from beyond the arc for the Cyclones (5-1), who have won 24 straight non-conference home games. Niang added eight assists and six rebounds. Olivier Vernon Jersey. . Dustin Hogue tallied 14 points for Iowa State, which shot 64 percent from the field and went 10-of-19 from 3-point range. Monte Morris and Naz Long had 11 and 10 points, respectively. Bobby Portis ended with 19 points and eight rebounds for the Razorbacks (6-1). Alandise Harris donated 15 points. 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