Keefe: Leafs' loss to Canadiens is 'unacceptable'

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was not thrilled with his team's performance in a season-opening loss against the rival Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.

Although the Leafs only held one lead in the game after Michael Bunting opened the scoring, they allowed two goals in the final three minutes, including the game-winner with 19 seconds remaining.

Keefe was particularly upset with his club's defensive play.

"It was early season sloppiness, but I don’t expect that. For everything our team has been through together, it’s unacceptable," Keefe said, according to Postmedia's Terry Koshan. "We have to be way more responsible."

The Leafs were credited with 11 giveaways compared to the Canadiens' 23, but a handful of them were very costly, ending up in the back of Toronto's net.

"Careless," Keefe continued. "I expect more, our group should expect more. Not good enough. We deserved to lose."

Keefe did not pin the blame on goaltender Matt Murray, though, who allowed four goals on 23 shots in his Leafs debut.

"I thought our guys hung him out to dry," Keefe said.

Toronto won't have to wait long to get a chance to right the ship, as the team's back in action Thursday against the Washington Capitals.