Eight Game Slide Takes Leafs to the Bag

TORONTO – With the eighth straight loss Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs now have lost control of their playoff destiny. The slide out of playoff contention has been brutal for Leaf fans.

The eight game slide out of contention has tied a Maple Leaf team record. The last time the Leafs played this poorly was in 1985.

Red Wing Darren Helm made the most of his opportunity to play on the Detroit Red Wings main line.

Darren Helm scored a hat trick.

Between the pipes for the Wings, Jimmy Howard made twenty-five saves.

Helm’s hat trick was the first of his career.

It was also his first goals since the end of November, when he popped in a pair against the New York Islanders.

“It was the first hat trick I ever had, which is pretty special,” commented Helm. “Big game to win too. I was happy to win the game, first off, but the hat trick is a nice thing to take home.”