"Facing a bit of adversity" - Craig Berube addresses Maple Leafs locker room spirit ahead of crunch Bruins clash

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Oct 26, 2024 22:32 GMT

Craig Berube shared his thoughts on the Toronto Maple Leafs locker room spirit before their game against the Boston Bruins. He said the players’ energy is positive despite recent challenges.

Berube stated, per Leafs Latest on X:

“Yeah, their spirit’s good. In practice yesterday, we went over corrections with video, had conversations, and then got to work. The energy was strong, and the guys are ready to go tonight. They’re disappointed too—no one’s happy about not winning or playing well. They understand it, and they’re facing a bit of adversity.”

The Leafs have started the season with a 4-4-0 record. Their wins included a strong 5-2 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but they also faced recent losses to Columbus and St. Louis. Some players have stood out. William Nylander, for example, has seven points in eight games, while Anthony Stolarz has a .938 save percentage. However, team defense remains inconsistent. They’ve recorded 45 giveaways while only getting 12 takeaways, showing a need for improvement.

The Leafs' power play has also struggled, ranking 29th in the league. This is an area Berube’s team will need to address, along with defensive issues. Backup goalie Joseph Woll has had a tough start, but Stolarz’s strong performance in net is encouraging. Players like Nick Robertson, who has yet to score consistently, will also need to step up to boost the team’s offense.

The Maple Leafs must work on defense and improve their power-play strategy as they continue the season. Berube’s focus on building team spirit and addressing flaws will be essential in upcoming games.

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube talked about the loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube talked about his frustration after their 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. He clarified that his comments were about accountability, not personally aimed at Auston Matthews.

"It’s just accountability to everybody, you know, that’s all it is. It’s nothing personal. It’s just me being a coach and doing what I think is right at the time,” Berube explained, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

The Leafs struggled with defense. Berube, coaching against his former team,

"We made mistakes...defensive mistakes," he said, pointing to a lack of awareness.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored Toronto's only goal, making it 2-1 briefly. But after a turnover by Matthews, Alexandre Texier scored, and St. Louis kept control.

Joseph Woll, in his season debut, made 22 saves. Woll returned after missing the first seven games due to groin tightness, but Toronto’s defensive errors proved costly. Despite Woll's efforts, the Maple Leafs couldn't recover from the mistakes, resulting in the loss.