Limp Leafs: Toronto players looking for answers after pair of ugly losses

TORONTO - Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf says the players deserve to take the blame for back-to-back blowout losses.

The Maple Leafs practised for about 90 minutes today after being blown out 9-2 by the Nashville Predators the night before.

That loss came three days after Toronto dropped a 6-2 decision to the lowly Buffalo Sabres.

As a result, head coach Randy Carlyle's future has become a hot talking point in the city even though the 9-8-2 team would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.

Phaneuf says the coaching staff is not out there playing, and it's up to the players to improve and do the things needed to win.

Carlyle, meanwhile, says questions about his future come with the territory, but his focus is on getting his team back on track ahead of Thursday's game against Tampa Bay.