There is a lot of sourness surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs’ loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night, and it isn’t just from the fans.

The Maple Leafs were nearly run out of the building early by the Golden Knights, with starting goaltender Joseph Woll getting chased after allowing three goals on seven shots in the first period. While Anthony Stolarz did his best to hold the fort down, and the team managed to get a couple of goals later on, it was far from enough to overcome the early deficit, and the Maple Leafs lost 5-2. The team’s leadership realizes that losing a game, in that way, to a Stanley Cup contender was an eye-opener. Forward Mitch Marner erased the notion that the team’s travel schedule has had an impact on the team.

“I don’t know, I mean, it’s a tough excuse to use,” Marner said after the game. “Last couple games really haven’t been great by us. I thought our goalies kept us in it a lot of times, so it’s a wake-up call.”

Marner and captain Auston Matthews were the goal-scorers for the Leafs’ second loss in a row, as the team fell to the San Jose Sharks at home on Monday night. The 3-2 shootout defeat to the Sharks was the team’s lone contest at Scotiabank Arena in the past six games.

Matthews was asked whether the amount of travel was catching up to the group, but he admits it’s just part of the game.

“It’s no excuse,” Matthews said. “The schedule’s the schedule, and so, I mean, we just gotta find a way to compete and bear down on, you’re dealt the cards that you get.”

Unfortunately, the road wheels will continue rolling through the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday. Toronto visits the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday before taking on the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City for the first time on Monday. The Leafs finally return home next Thursday, beginning a four-game homestand with a marquee matchup against the Florida Panthers.

Woll was given the hook after making just four saves on the seven shots he faced. Yet, Marner came to his netminder’s defense.

“It’s not Joe’s fault,” Marner said. “It’s a 5-man game up there all the time, and we didn’t help him out enough up there. That’s how it goes.”

The lack of excuses was expressed by former captain John Tavares, who also recognized that the Leafs need to find another level to be considered contenders.

“There’s no excuses,” Tavares said. “We have to be a lot better than we were.”

The last couple of games might bring concern to those across Leafs Nation, but given that Toronto won its previous five games, the team has put itself in a spot for a favorable matchup heading into the playoffs.

With 20 games remaining in the regular season, the Maple Leafs (38-21-3) are second to the Panthers in the battle for first in the Atlantic Division.