Toronto Maple Leafs

When a team is last in a 30-team league as it reaches the quarter mark of its season, changes are almost sure to follow.

Leafs general manager Brian Burke hinted strongly Wednesday that he would take some drastic action if the fortunes don't change, and his players set themselves up on Thursday by bungling their way to a 6-5 shootout loss in Carolina.

That's five straight defeats and nine of 11 total losses by a goal.

"If we don't start winning, we have two options," said Burke. "One, we make a trade, and if I could make one that puts us in the playoffs, I would. But trades are hard to make.

"Two, we send somebody on a one-way (contract) down and call up the kids. That's the next step. We waive them and send them down, and if we lose them (on a waiver claim), we lose them."

With those quotes hanging over them, the Leafs went out and blew a 3-0 lead Thursday and gave up a tying goal just before the end of regulation.

"Obviously, what we're doing in here isn't working," said defenseman Ian White. "We'll see what kind of character we have in here now."

If Burke dumps someone, it could be forward Jason Blake, who makes $4.5 million but has just two goals.

HURRICANES 6, MAPLE LEAFS 5 (SO): The Leafs were still shaking their heads on the plane home after losing to the only team that was lower in the standings, a team missing several front-line players.

After a season-high three first-period goals, by Matt Stajan, Mikhail Grabovski and Lee Stempniak, the Leafs took their foot off the gas.

The Leafs pulled back ahead 5-4 with 29.9 seconds left when Ian White cashed in. But Carolina scored with the net empty, and Jussi Jokinen and Tuomu Ruutu beat goalie Jonas Gustavsson in the shootout. Phil Kessel and Stempniak were stopped by Manny Legace.

• Coach Ron Wilson steadfastly refuses to put D Luke Schenn in the press box for a night, despite some rough patches the last few games when Wilson has cut his ice time.

  "He has had the up-and-down inconsistencies of a second-year player," Wilson said. "We're willing to live with that."

  Schenn played less than 10 minutes against the Hurricanes in Thursday's 6-5 shootout loss.

• With Thursday's loss, the Leafs have now been edged by one goal in 50 games since the start of 2007-08. That includes nine this season and a club-record 23 when Paul Maurice was coach in '07-08. Maurice was behind the Carolina bench Thursday.

• D Ian White will not be moving up to right wing, a switch coach Ron Wilson made last year to boost scoring and get White's offensive talents in the mix.

  "Ian has the most even-strength points on our defense and has been our best plus/minus player (plus-4)," Wilson said. "Why would I move him up?"

Quote To Note:

"Everyone talks about playoffs like it's a dirty word. I never promised we'd make it this year, but if that's not your goal every year in this business, do something else, go drive a truck."

—GM Brian Burke on his often repeated assertion in the summer that the Leafs have playoff potential.

Goaltenders:

Jonas Gustavsson, Vesa Toskala.

Defensemen:

Luke Schenn, Ian White, Tomas Kaberle, Francois Beauchemin, Jeff Finger, Carl Gunnarsson.

First Line:

Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Stajan, Phil Kessel.

Second Line:

Jason Blake, Mikhail Grabovski, Niklas Hagman.

Third Line:

Nikolai Kulemin, John Mitchell, Lee Stempniak.

Fourth Line:

Jamal Mayers, Rickard Wallin, Colton Orr.

Player Notes:

• D Luke Schenn's poor start might be attributed to an unsuitable offseason training plan, says ex-Leaf Gary Roberts. The retired winger, who operates a local gym and has worked with players such as Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos, told a Toronto radio station he's detected slow skating movement in Schenn, which he suspects was from too much stationary bike riding in the summer.

  "If you ride that bike all the time, you're going to get slow and you're going to get hurt," Roberts said. "It's the worst thing Luke could've done, if that's indeed what he did. I don't know for sure, I don't talk to the guys and it's none of my business."

  Leaf strength coach Matt Nichol was replaced with Anthony Belza during the summer, and the team went to an aerobic summer exercise plan rather than anaerobic.

• C Matt Stajan scored his first even-strength goal during Wednesday's 6-5 overtime loss to Carolina, after opening the year with four on the power play.

• G Jonas Gustavsson picked up his first NHL assist and made 40 saves against Carolina.

Medical Watch:

• D Mike Komisarek (torn quad muscle) should return near Dec. 1.

• D Mike Van Ryn (knee) is out for the season.