Rielly: Leafs need to use downtime to 'take a look in the mirror'

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly is using the NHL's hiatus as a time to reflect, and he recommends his teammates do the same.

"It's important that we use this downtime to really take a look in the mirror. As players, we all have to be better," he told TSN on Thursday.

He added: "When hockey does resume, I think we know that we have to be better and we have to be more consistent. And I think that this time is important for the players to really think about that and know what's at stake."

The Maple Leafs have been one of the most inconsistent teams this season.

They followed up a February loss against the Carolina Hurricanes and emergency backup David Ayres with a win against the juggernaut Tampa Bay Lightning. Before the season came to a halt, Toronto dropped three straight games against a trio of basement-dwelling California clubs but responded with another victory against the Bolts.

"I thought that we answered the bell at times when we had to against some pretty good teams," Rielly said. "And then, obviously the downs being games where you're supposed to win, or you expect a good team to be able to win, and we weren't able to execute that."

Rielly missed nearly two months with a broken foot before playing just one game prior to the season being paused. He's collected 27 points in 47 contests this campaign.

The Maple Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division with a 36-25-9 record.