RALEIGH, N.C. - With only three wins on their ledger at the quarter-mark of the 2009-10 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are inviting historic comparisons - none of them flattering.

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Coach Ron Wilson (C) of the Toronto Maple Leafs gives his players instructions late in the third period in their game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Center on November 19, 2009 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes defeated the Maple Leafs 6-5 in the shoot out.

Photograph by : Getty Images

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Though points in the standings are awarded more liberally in the post-lockout era, the Leafs are tiptoeing along at a pace (3-11-6) that would threaten the worst teams in National Hockey League history.

Consider the following: To this point of the schedule, the Leafs have only one more victory than the 1974-75 Washington Capitals, the team that remains the flag-bearer for single-season futility. The Capitals, in their inaugural NHL campaign, were 2-16-2 after 20 games, en route to a calamitous record of 8-67-5 for 21 points.

The 1992-93 San Jose Sharks, careening toward the most losses in a single season (71), actually had more wins than the Leafs after 20 games, with a 4-15-1 record. The Ottawa Senators of that season almost matched San Jose's futility with 70 losses, and they had a 3-14-3 mark after 20 games.

At the moment, the Leafs have nothing on the 1972-73 New York Islanders, who established record lows in their inaugural season with a 12-60-6 ledger for 30 points. As do the current Leafs, the infant Islanders had three wins after 20 games.

The 1975-76 Kansas City Scouts were almost twice as potent as the 2009-10 Maple Leafs, with a 5-14-1 record after 20 games. But, that Kansas City team - forerunner to the New Jersey Devils - fell into a minor tailspin in the latter half of the schedule, going 1-35-8 in its final 44 games to finish at 12-56-12 for 36 points.

Even the godforsaken California Golden Seals of 1973-74 - the 13-55-10 wonders of Joey Johnston, Ivan Boldirev, Pete Laframboise, Morris Mott, etc. - had five victories in their first 20 games.

Many fans of the Maple Leafs would likely agree that Thursday night's 6-5 shootout loss in Raleigh, N.C., ranks among the most gnawing they've witnessed. The Leafs breezed to a 3-0 lead over the Hurricanes in the first period, and held a 4-2 lead midway through the third. Carolina tied it 4-4, but Ian White - playing his best game as a Leaf - appeared to win it for the visitors with a goal at 19:30 of the final frame.

In a last-gasp effort, Carolina knotted the score on a goal by Erik Cole with just 2.9 seconds left in regulation, then quickly and easily prevailed in the shootout.

But, take comfort young Leafs fans. There have been more than a few stomach-churning defeats through the decades.

One that immediately comes to mind was a Wednesday night game at the Montreal Forum on Jan. 19, 1972. Gallantly skirmishing with the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Leafs appeared as if they'd escape with a scoreless draw, and a valuable point in the East Division standings. But, the Canadiens had one final rush in the dying seconds and wound up shocking Toronto fans watching on TV when Peter Mahovlich beat goalie Bernie Parent at 19:58 of the third period. Canadiens 1, Leafs 0.

And, who can possibly forget the night of Nov. 17, 1997, at Maple Leaf Gardens? The Leafs and St. Louis Blues were clearly headed for overtime with the score deadlocked, 2-2, and the Blues killing off the final seconds in the neutral zone. As the buzzer was about to sound, St. Louis defenceman Al MacInnis fired a routine, 120-foot shot toward the Leafs' goal that Felix Potvin would routinely handle, setting up the five-minute extra session.

Two bounces later - with 1.7 seconds to go - the puck was behind a mortified Potvin and St. Louis left the ice with a stunning 3-2 triumph.

So, it may get worse and it may get better for the current Leafs, who would gladly avoid any further comparisons of historic tribulation.