"In his homecoming game, Dion Phaneuf absorbed the boos. The Leafs, though, were the more deserving target.

What should have been the club's biggest game of the season fell apart in a rush in the second period, leaving the Leafs and Phaneuf empty.

Calgary swamped their former defenceman and the Leafs with a three-goal blitz in 57 seconds en route to a 5-2 win at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Calgary fans left little doubt how they felt about Phaneuf. As soon as he touched the puck for the first time, the boos rained down in unison around the rink. They kept up that way for much of the first period, but there wasn't any need after that.

"This was never about me against the Calgary Flames," a dejected Phaneuf said afterwards.

"I don't know why everyone keeps bringing that up. Our team got beat, we didn't play anywhere near where we had to . . . we're fighting for our lives in the standings and this was unacceptable.""