If the Maple Leafs don’t sort themselves out soon, Craig Berube might self-combust behind the bench, leaving nothing behind but a sooty stain.

Sure, there’s lots of hockey yet to play, but almost 20 per cent of the season has already come and gone, and Toronto is sitting third from the bottom in the intensely competitive, hugely improved Atlantic Division.

What’s glaringly obvious is that these Leafs, despite boasting the second-best defensive metrics in the NHL last season — indicating they had bought into the head coach’s organically defensive style, obediently embracing his structure — are no longer so keen, or at least certainly not so committed.

Oh, they can still score goals by the bucketful — 59, tied for third in the league through Sunday’s games. But their 60 goals against

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