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TORONTO - There are many questions surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs, namely: How did this happen? How, in less than two weeks, did a team that was sitting pretty in second place in the Atlantic Division fritter away a three-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens and nine-point advantage over the Detroit Red Wings? As the players come to grips with the roots of their six-game losing streak, Tuesdays almost-comeback against the St. Mens Salomon Outban Low Outdoor Casual Shoes Dark ...e Sneakers . Louis Blues highlighted a big issue: Why cant the Leafs play with the desperation they show when down two or three goals at the start of games? "Thats the million-dollar question right now," winger James van Riemsdyk said. "It seems like every time we get down we start to ramp it up, and then its always just a little too little, too late at the end." It may be too little, too late for the Leafs if they cant figure out how to solve that problem. Theyre tied at 80 points with the Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals but are fourth among those teams for the Eastern Conferences two wild-card spots because theyve played the most games (74). Of course that also means their eight remaining are the fewest among those in the race and theres not much time to figure out slow starts, a central problem during this losing skid. Against the Blues, the Leafs scored first for the first time since March 10, but they also gave up a season-high 23 shots in the opening period and were hemmed in their zone often. "We just couldnt get out of our zone," winger Joffrey Lupul said. "They put a lot of pressure on us, and we couldnt handle it." Coach Randy Carlyle noticed some of the pressure that has been building on his team early on Tuesday night. "Theres a lot of tenseness in our players," he said after the 5-3 loss. "The first three puck recoveries, we just slapped the puck away. We didnt pick up the puck and skate with it at all. Thats showing signs of being nervous, tense, (a lack of) confidence not wanting to make a mistake, which led to more offensive-zone time (for St. Louis)." The listless Leafs led for less than five minutes, then trailed from the time David Backes scored with 32.3 seconds left in the first period until the end of the game. It was only after ex-Toronto forward Alex Steen scored to make it 4-1 that the Leafs showed some fire and launched a comeback bid that fell short. At this point, players are even self-aware that the transformation is happening once they fall behind. "It seems like when we get down, then were playing with no fear, were letting some of our skill take over, our defencemen are rushing the puck out of the zone and making plays," Lupul said. "Theres something to be said about being down and not having that fear anymore, but realistically weve got to play like that right from the start. Its more of a psychological thing than it is a physical thing." If its a mental problem, defenceman Carl Gunnarsson doesnt have the answer. "Weve been talking about it," he said. "I dont know whats going on there, but weve got to figure out a way here to change it." Changing it and managing to play as well as they did in the bulk of the third period against the Blues would give the Leafs a good chance of coming out of this tailspin and making the playoffs. Gunnarsson and goaltender Jonathan Bernier agreed that, although thats a challenge, the end result could be scary for opponents. "If we play like we did in the third period for 60 minutes, I dont think theres a lot of teams that can beat us," Gunnarsson said. Of course if the Leafs make mistakes like they did in the first half of the game and throughout this losing streak, they can lose to any team left on the schedule. They visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday before returning home to face the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday and also have games against the Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators to close out the season. We have a lot of fight left in us," van Riemsdyk said. "Theres eight games left, and well have to leave it all out there in every game." Salomon Snowcross CS Mens Running Shoes Boots Blac...r Sneakers . Andre Drummond had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Detroit shot a season-best 55 per cent to blow by the Jazz 114-94 Monday night. Salomon Shoes Sale . The moves were the first punitive steps taken by the Dolphins since a report on the NFLs investigation of the case was released last week. Investigators found that guard Richie Incognito and two teammates engaged in persistent harassment directed at tackle Jonathan Martin, another offensive lineman and an assistant trainer.MINNEAPOLIS -- The Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins were given an unexpected day off because of the weather. They sure needed the extra time to warm back up from the night before. The Blue Jays-Twins game Wednesday was postponed more than seven hours before it was scheduled to begin, due to the unseasonable cold causing a spring storm to produce blowing snow all afternoon with some accumulation predicted at night. Since this week is Torontos only trip to Minnesota, the teams will play a day-night doubleheader Thursday. The forecast was calling for a high temperature of about 42 degrees Thursday but clear and dry conditions. The Blue Jays beat the Twins 9-3 Tuesday without precipitation problems, but the first-pitch temperature was 35 degrees. "Weve got a roof up there in Toronto, so we dont get exposed to it that much. Youve just got to be mentally tough," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said after the game. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow had trouble gripping the ball and didnt finish the fourth inning. He escaped with only two runs allowed. "I didnt feel helpless. I was still trying on every pitch. But nothing was working," Morrow said. Third baseman Brett Lawrie didnt let the cold stop him from hitting a grand slam in the ninth inning, but he still felt it. "It just kind of hits you. It takes a little bit of getting used to," Lawrie said, adding: "Get your cold gear on and man up." One potential casualty of the cold was designated hitter Adam Linds back. He left the game Tuesday with tightness and has a history of back trouble. The Blue Jays held out centre fielder Colby Rasmus Tuesday because of hamstring tightness that forced him out Sunday at Baltimore. The cold could also work against R.A. Dickeys knuckleball, which thrives in humid, hot conditions. The Blue Jays switched their rotation to start Dickey in the matinee Thursday and use Dustin McGowan for the rescheduled game, which willl start six hours after the first one. Salomon XT Hawk Trail Running Shoes Military Green...ellow Mens. The Twins kept Kyle Gibson as their starter for the afternoon game, meaning Mike Pelfrey will take the mound Thursday night after having this turn bumped back. Pelfrey will try to bounce back from two rough appearances to start the season. Another pitcher in need of a rebound is reliever Jared Burton, the primary setup man. After posting a 2.18 ERA in 64 appearances in 2012, Burton had his ERA rise to 3.82 in 71 appearances last year. He was charged with nine losses. This season, he has allowed six hits, eight runs and three walks in five innings, including Lawries grand slam Tuesday. "I dont know whats going on with him right now. Hes not pitching with a lot of confidence," manager Ron Gardenhire said, adding: "Hes got good stuff. Hes got a track record. So weve just got to figure out a way to get him right." Burton said hes having trouble controlling his pitches, another byproduct of the April cold. "I think pitchers and hitters will both tell you that its tough at the beginning of the year with the weather and everything. Ive just got to do a better job of getting ahead of guys. Im behind everybody, and its a lot easier to hit when youre ahead in the count," he said. Burton expressed confidence hell bounce back. "I feel fine. Im healthy. Im just human. Were under a little bit of a microscope and when we struggle it shows. Ill figure it out. We all go through these phases. Its just a matter of stopping a slump and starting a streak," he said. NOTES: Since Target Field opened in 2010, the Twins have had nine weather-induced postponements, plus one game suspended by rain and finished the following day. 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