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Unproductive winger Jason Blake is the next target of reform for Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson.

Blake, who is only two years removed from his career-best 40-goal season, has struggled since his move to Toronto 15 months ago.

He scored 15 goals in 82 games a season ago, and in six games this fall Blake has one meaningless power-play goal in a 6-1 loss to the Montreal Canadians two weeks ago. He raised eyebrows when he emphatically pumped his fist after depositing his second-period goal, which made the score 5-1.

Wilson has talked with Blake about his inefficient play, and there is a possibility that the veteran forward will sit out Toronto's game in Boston against the Bruins tonight, because left winger Ryan Hollweg is eligible to return from his three-game suspension for his major boarding penalty against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 13.

When asked if Blake thought he may be a healthy scratch in Boston, he shrugged, "I don't know. There is nothing I can do about it."

Blake and Hollweg alternated on fourth-line duty at practice yesterday with centre John Mitchell and right wing Jamal Mayers.

"There is no sense of entitlement here on what you did in the past," Wilson said. "I don't care who has fan clubs or what the media say, it's the results you produce on the ice that I care about.

"I'm looking for short-term pain for long-term gain."

Blake is a wonderful, swift skater who can pile up shot counts, but seems content with playing on the perimeter. He was fifth in the league last season with 334 shots on goal and leads the Leafs this year with 24.

Wilson, who knows Blake well from coaching him on U.S. national teams, preached to him throughout training camp to crash the net, and Blake has done little of that this season.

As a result, Blake, 35, was dropped to the fourth line after the first period of the Leafs 3-2 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

"My job is to identify who is playing well at the beginning of the game," Wilson said. "I have to break through some of the mindset here after not making the playoffs three years in a row."

It's difficult to argue with Wilson's method. He benched Matt Stajan for a game and demoted Alexei Ponikarovsky to the fourth line, and saw those two players battle back with a spirited game against the Ducks alongside Nik Antropov.

Defenceman Mike Van Ryn had a turn in the press box last Saturday, and he returned to be the best Toronto player on the ice on Tuesday.

"The guys have to realize the expectations are different now," Wilson said.

On a team that has difficulty scoring — the Leafs have only 11 goals in six games — Blake needs to provide offence.

"It is frustrating," Blake said. "All I can do is keep my chin up and work hard. My game is all about speed and it's something that I have to work on.

"I know what Ron expects of me. Obviously, I will look at myself in the mirror and go from there."

Notes

• When Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson jokingly lifted his left arm to summon Curtis Joseph off the bench to replace Vesa Toskala for the shootout on Tuesday in the Leafs' 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, he said he was playing the percentages because Joseph had performed better in shootouts. But here is a stat the Leafs coach should know for the next time: goalies who come off the bench for shootouts have allowed eight goals in nine attempts, including the two Joseph allowed against the Ducks. Wilson made the move because of Toskala's dismal record (2-9) and save percentage (.486), compared to Joseph (5-4, .706). Wilson said what move he will make for the next shootout will depend on the situation.
• The Leafs coach remarked that rookie defenceman Luke Schenn has been the Leafs' top defencemen in the defensive end. ¡K Leafs RW Nik Antropov has scored the only three goals in his team's past three games.
• Toronto, 1-2-3, have lost five consecutive games, three in shootouts.
• The Bruins, 2-1-3, also have dropped three shootout games already this season.
• Leafs D Jeff Finger (foot) is not expected to suit up against the Bruins, but could be ready for Toronto's home game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Next: Game Tonight at Boston, 7 p.m.

TV: TSN