Maple Leafs goalie Vesa Toskala had allowed nine goals through his first 105 minutes of play this season. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Vesa Toskala has been heavily criticized during the team's poor start to the season but Don Cherry stuck up for the beleaguered netminder on Coach's Corner on Saturday.

Toskala and the Leafs found themselves down 2-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins after being outshot 14-2 in the first period.

Cherry blamed the first goal squarely on veteran defenceman Tomas Kaberle, who the Hockey Night in Canada personality said obstructed his own teammate.

"Does anybody ever block a shot on this team?" asked Cherry. "Kaberle just stands there and screens it, he couldn't have been a better screen."

Cherry, with the use of replay, also opined that Pittsburgh's second goal should have been called offside at the blue-line. Toskala let a deflected shot through his pads.

"Poor Toskala, look at how far back this guy is in the net," said Cherry. "Everybody knows, when a guy doesn't have confidence, he backs up.

"They've got this guy so screwed up, he's had three goalie coaches in three years."

Cherry criticized current Toronto goalie consultant Francois Allaire about being so forthcoming about Toskala's issues during a pre-game interview.

"Allaire comes up and tells … the world about his weakness, not standing square on rebounds," said Cherry. "Why come out and tell everybody?"

The Finnish goalie posted solid numbers in 2006-07, his debut season in Toronto. But he has struggled to regain that form and headed into this season looking to come back after hip surgery in the spring.

Jonas Gustavsson was in net in Toronto's 2-1 loss to Ottawa on Tuesday, but the Swedish goalie suffered a groin injury that will put him off the ice for an extended period. The Maple Leafs recalled veteran Joey MacDonald from the American Hockey League.

Kaberle stuck up for Toskala in a first intermission interview with Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada.

"We all are [struggling] right now," said Kaberle. "Obviously, confidence is low, we need an ugly goal or something,"

Toronto would score the next goal but go on to lose 5-2. Toskala has a goals-against average of 4.97 and an .824 save percentage through three appearances this season.