TORONTO -- It was nothing new to see these Toronto Maple Leafs beaten. Craig Gentry Jersey . A 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings was their eighth straight in regulation. But Saturday night in the home locker room at Air Canada Centre, the Leafs looked defeated for the first time during this losing streak or this once-hopeful season that has quickly gone off the rails. "I cant describe it right now," winger Joffrey Lupul said. "This was as close to a do-or-die as you can get. But obviously were not going to throw out hope until its mathematically set in stone. But we pretty much had to have this game." Seven losses piled up and yet the Leafs still sounded like a team that had hope. Giving up huge leads in the standings to the Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals to fall into a four-way tie at 80 points was one thing. Squandering the most important game of this stretch so far to a fellow Eastern Conference wild-card competitor felt like the breaking point. "This loss is the most disappointing out of the eight. Theres no hiding that," captain Dion Phaneuf said. "We come tonight against a team that was battling for that same spot and they win this hockey game. This is the toughest loss for sure." Detroit (34-26-14) got a hat trick from Darren Helm and another from the NHLs hottest goal-scorer, Gustav Nyquist, to reach 82 points. "It was the first hat trick I ever had, which is pretty special," Helm said. "Big game to win, too. I was happy to win the game, first off, but the hat trick is a nice thing to take home." The Red Wings werent the only ones in the race to win Saturday night, as the Blue Jackets beat the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime to take over the top wild-card spot in the East at 82 points. Columbus leads Detroit because they have more regulation and overtime wins (33 to 29). With just six games remaining -- two less than each of the three teams theyre competing with for two spots -- the Leafs are fourth among those teams and know the difficult task in front of them. "Weve got to win the rest of our games and get help now, I think," said Lupul, who scored the Leafs second goal of the night late in the second period to give some life that evaporated in the third. "All we can control right now is winning the rest of our games, and were going to have to have every one, probably." Phaneuf didnt want to consider that daunting task. The defenceman whose miscues cost the Leafs in previous defeats didnt want to think too far ahead but also called this a "very trying" time for a group that was in second place in the Atlantic Division as recently as Mar. 16. This was the first time in franchise history that Toronto (36-32-8) went eight straight games without a point since 1996 and the first time it lost eight consecutive in regulation since 1985. "Its not like were playing bad hockey, its just one of those things where every mistake that we do make ends up (in our net)," said defenceman Cody Franson, who opened the scoring 10:57 into the first period. "Its the end of the season, everybodys clamping down and your little mistakes end up costing you. Plain and simple." Mistakes like a turnover by Phil Kessel on the power play early in the second that led to Helms first, a short-handed goal. Or like the puck taking a bad hop off Franson and right to Helm for his third. "It just isnt meant to be for us right now, and this is the tough ones," coach Randy Carlyle said. Asked what he figured the difference was in the loss, his third straight since returning from a groin injury, goaltender Jonathan Bernier (24 saves on 28 shots) said: "Odd-man rushes." Lupul agreed. "We gave up odd-man situations repeatedly for whatever reason," he said. "Its tough to say from the bench, thats something you notice when you watch the game again. But the try is there, just we didnt get the job done and we have to pay for that now." The Leafs have been paying since they last won a game, Mar. 13 at the Los Angeles Kings. Most importantly they havent been picking up valuable points with the games whittling down to the end of the regular season. On the other hand, Detroit has picked up 11 points and gone on an impressive run without star forward Pavel Datsyuk and captain Henrik Zetterberg. The injuries have piled up, but the Red Wings have gotten 21 goals in 26 games from Nyquist and continued solid performances from goalie Jimmy Howard (25 saves) to remain in the playoff race. "Weve been devastated this year, no question about it, but we found all these kids and were better for it going ahead, so thats a positive thing," coach Mike Babcock said. "Weve had a lot of fun doing it. Weve been in the grinder since day one, theres no question about it, but weve had a lot of fun doing it and weve got a big game against Tampa tomorrow." Every game down the stretch is big for the Leafs now. They return to Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night to face the Calgary Flames before hosting the Atlantic Division-champion Boston Bruins on Thursday and the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. They finish the season with three on the road: at the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators. But unless they manage to string together a home winning streak, those games will be too late. The task in front of them is to prevent doing even once more what theyve done eight consecutive times. As the Leafs seemed to realize Saturday night, they can no longer afford to lose. "Weve won six in a row in the season," Bernier said. "Obviously its hard to snap the long losing streak like that, but weve got to find a way. If not, then well be home very soon." NOTE -- Winger Phil Kessel took a pass from James van Riemsdyk off his right foot in the first period and laboured to the bench in pain. Kessel was seen limping after the game, but Carlyle did not have any information on his condition. ... Bernier started on back-to-back days for the first time this season and just the second time in his NHL career. The only previous time was March 5, 2013 with the Los Angeles Kings, when Bernier was pulled after giving up three goals on eight shots. ... Defenceman Paul Ranger and enforcer Colton Orr were scratched for the Leafs, who recalled forward Jerry DAmigo earlier in the day from the AHLs Toronto Marlies. ... The Red Wings were playing their 14th straight game without Datsyuk (knee) and 16th straight without Zetterberg (back). Theyve played 35 total without Datsyuk and 29 without Zetterberg. ... The game was broadcast live on CCTV in China. Roberto Alomar Jersey . Mika Zibanejad and Jason Spezza scored in the shootout to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday night. Jonathan Schoop Jersey . The United States clinched the final berth into the Ford Worlds, March 28-April 6 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, on Saturday in Blaine, Minn. http://www.theoriolesteamshop.com/Orioles-Chris-Tillman-Kids-Jersey/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have fired receivers coach Ike Hilliard.Sky Sports presenter Alex Hammond previews Future Champions Day at Newmarket and reflects on the Arc at Chantilly. What did you make of the performance of Found in the Qatar Prix de lArc de Triomphe giving that a number of the leading market fancies failed to run their races at Chantilly?You dont get poor winners of a race like the Arc - I was impressed on the day and on reflection I havent changed that viewpoint. Its not so much that this was a vintage Arc or otherwise, but she is remarkably tough and consistent and an admirable racehorse. She really wanted to win, you could see that by the way she stuck her neck out all the way to the line and the time was a fast one. Its obviously hard to compare it to other Arcs with it being run away from its usual home at Longchamp, but as I said, Group One races like this dont come easy and the win takes her prize money to more than £4.5m. It looks like she could head to Ascot for Champions Day before another tilt at the Breeders Cup. Its brilliant for racing to see connections arent wrapping her in cotton wool and packing her off to the paddocks and we should get at least one more opportunity to see her in action. Do you think that either of the juvenile winners, or anything that finished behind, will be able to make an impression in next seasons Classics?Funnily enough I was chatting to Jason Weaver in the Sky Sports studios about the two juvenile races before we went on air and we both agreed that the Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) may not have been the strongest of renewals. However, I was very impressed with the fillies race, the Prix Marcel Boussac. Whilst Wuheida improved from her maiden win to take it in style, my eye was drawn to the staying-on runner-up Promise To Be True. Aidan OBrien holds this daughter of the mighty Galileo in the highest regard and this was a much improved effort after her flop in the Moyglare Stud Stakes on her previous start. She very much looks the type to improve for a winter on her back and I have just availed myself of the 16/1 available with Sky Bet for both for the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks. She has been described as a big baby by OBrien, making her achievements all the more impressive, and I expect big things next season.Should we back Wuheida before Spatial boosts her form in the Dubai Fillies Mile or do you have your eye on another runner in Fridays Group One?That could well happen, but as Ive said Im keeping faith that OBrien will have Promise To Be True on top form for next years Classics. As for the Fillies Mile, this race has churned out numerous Future Champions and whoever wins will go into winter quarters with plenty of expectation ahead of next season. I do like the look of Spatial who runs for Sir Michael Stoute and Andrea Atzeni. She was close behind Wuheida on debut and that form having been franked, shes undoubtedly going to be a popular choice here. Charlie Applebys Sobetsu was behind Spatial on her own debut, but improved to run away with her maiden next time. Both are considered but Im inclined to go with Ryan Moores ride, Rhododendron, in an open race. She should appreciate stepping up to a mile for the first time after decent efforts over seven furlongs. The Moyglare that she ran in last time out didnt quite go to plan for OBrien, but as with most Ballydoyle-trained horses she can get back on track here and at around the 100/30 mark looks a fair price to do so. Im inclined to go with Ryan Moores ride, Rhododendron, in an openn race. Joey Rickard Jersey. . She should appreciate stepping up to a mile for the first time after decent efforts over seven furlongs. She can get back on track here. Alex on Rhododendron Youve been banging Churchills drum for a while now Alex and were guessing thats not going to change. Can anything get close to him in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes?You are right! I backed the 2000 Guineas favourite for Saturdays race at 9/4 back in August but I wouldnt be rushing to get stuck into him at the sort of price hell be sent off on Saturday. He faces his toughest task to date and will have to bring his A-game to Newmarket to land the odds. That said, after OBriens historic 1-2-3 in the Arc on Sunday he seems to be in invincible form and I expect this son of the imperious Galileo to win. Of his six rivals, I have liked what Ive seen so far of Andrew Baldings colt, South Seas. He brings an unbeaten record into the race and won the Solario last time out. My one reservation is the likely fast ground as all his form is on soft, which he is bred to appreciate, so that would be a major worry. Im not sure about Blue Point stepping up to seven furlongs. Appleby said he would be aimed at the Commonwealth Cup next season, so Im surprised to see him here after being beaten in the Middle Park last month, a race in which he held every chance but failed to reel in the winner. Rivet is another I like and trainer William Haggas will be hoping to see improvement since his win in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster at the Leger meeting. Unlike Blue Point, this trip looks right for him as weve seen and he could chase home Churchill. Sky Racing Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you An easy question to finish with - name the winner of the Betfred Cesarewitch?Hang on, let me just consult my crystal ball! One thing I did predict was that St Michel would make the final line-up and after a tense few days for his supporters, the ante-post favourite gets a run. He needed a handful of horses to come out and Sir Mark Prescotts charge squeaks in at 33 in this 34-runner field. St Michel does have a horrible draw in stall 32 though and I wont be backing him to win from his wide berth. David Pipes Starchitect is another who has not been done many favours by a wide draw, but if it can be overcome hed look to have a solid chance. It looks like they have been protecting his handicap rating as he hasnt run since May and he goes well fresh. Its interesting to see Pipes other runner, Ennistown, has Moore booked, and Pipe must be ruing his luck with these two in 26 and 29, because otherwise they hold solid prospects. Indeed, I cant get away from the chance of Starchitect who looks frighteningly well handicapped off a mark of just 89 and he gets the vote at the prices from stall 26. Hes highly-rated over hurdles and may just get away with the draw given how much he could have in hand. At a bigger price The Cashel Man could be worth backing each way at 16/1. He was second in the Cesarewitch Trial over this course and distance in first-time blinkers and remains on a mark of 89. He has a decent draw and David Simcock has booked William Buick to ride from stall eight. If the blinkers are effective a second time he could improve further and take a hand in the finish but its Starchitect for me. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports ￡10 completely free bet! 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