Toronto Maple Leafs: David Rittich and team implode in third period

The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped their fifth straight game Tuesday night by a score of 6-3 to the Vancouver Canucks.

Despite holding a 3-2 lead in the third period, the Leafs and goaltender David Rittich fell apart allowing four unanswered goals (one empty net) by the Canucks.

The situation in net is one of the biggest questions facing the team as the regular season winds down and Tuesday made it all the more glaring.

There were several reasons for the team’s collapse but the biggest was definitely between the pipes.

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The North Division-leading Maple Leafs are starting to see Winnipeg and Edmonton very close in the rearview mirror.

The Jets are four points back with a game in hand while the Oilers are five points behind with two extra games.

"“I’m concerned about our goaltending,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe, to reporters. “Obviously, we’ve got to get that sorted out, but I’m not concerned about our team. I believe in our group. We played well enough to win here tonight. We played well enough to win the other night. We’ve got to get better goaltending to give our group confidence here.”"

After trading away a third-round pick for Rittich at the deadline, the team has to be expecting better performances than this if they call on him.

The former Calgary Flame finished the game with 23 saves on 28 shots. Some of the goals were abysmal, the kind that haunts your dreams.

Toronto Maple Leafs: David Rittich allows some of the softest goals you will see

The goal by Nils Hoglander to make it 3-3 in the third period had a certain aroma to it.

The sound you heard when Tanner Pearson made it 5-3 was a collective chorus of boos, broken television screens and words not safe for grandma spewing from Leafs Nation.

While you cannot put the blame squarely on someone who was expected to be the team’s backup to the backup, a lot of it has to be shouldered by the netminder after this game.

"“I’m taking full responsibility for this game,” said Rittich, to reporters. “I think the players did a great job. They got three goals for me and I just didn’t respond. I’ve just got to get better.”"

The team in front of Rittich was not much better in the final period, registering only eight shots on goal after putting up 32 in the opening two frames.

John Tavares found the net on the power play late in the second, an area that has become a great concern for the Leafs as well. The captain also scored in the first while William Nylander picked up two assists.

With just 10 games remaining on the schedule and a crucial two-game set starting Thursday in Winnipeg, the Leafs need to find an answer in goal – and fast.

Perhaps Jack Campbell can find some of the magic that led to an 11-game winning streak to start his season. Or maybe Frederik Andersen can get healthy in time for the playoffs.

After Tuesday night it has become clear that David Rittich will not be the one leading the Leafs to the promised land.

What did you think of the performance by David Rittich on Tuesday night? What is the best option for the Maple Leafs in net moving forward? Let us know in the comments below.