In a dramatic turn of events, Craig Berube embarked on an emotional rollercoaster Thursday morning as he prepared to face his former team, the St. Louis Blues, who he led to a Stanley Cup victory in 2019 before being unceremoniously fired last December. The Toronto Maple Leafs coach was in high spirits, even joking with reporters about misplacing his championship ring. However, by the end of the game, his demeanor had shifted drastically.
The Maple Leafs suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat, much to Berube’s dismay. “Our whole team’s getting a little cute,” he lamented. “We’ve just got to play direct.” The frustration was palpable as the team failed to clear the front of the net, allowing an early goal against netminder Joseph Woll in his season debut. To make matters worse, Blues forward Dylan Holloway was left unchecked in front on a power play.
Berube’s disappointment only grew as St. Louis extended their lead to 3-1 in the second period. The coach was seen fuming on the bench, visibly upset by Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe’s ill-advised attempt to play the puck between his legs. “Just not doing things right,” Berube criticized. “It was lazy hockey.”
Despite the tough loss, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews remained optimistic. “We just need to be better,” he asserted. “We need to be in spots, we need to fill positions, we need to check better.” Berube’s challenge now will be to rally his team and regroup for their next game, hoping to bounce back from this disappointing performance.