The Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice for practice at the Ford Performance Centre on Friday, gearing up for their upcoming road trip to Boston. The team was looking to shake off their recent struggles and get back on track after a tough loss to the St. Louis Blues just the night before.
One particular moment from the game stood out, as head coach Craig Berube was seen giving star center Auston Matthews an earful after the Blues scored their third goal. Berube later explained his actions, stating, “It’s just accountability to everybody. 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.”
Matthews, known for his offensive prowess and solid two-way play, took the criticism in stride, acknowledging that in hockey, getting yelled at is just part of the game. “Coach yells, you just kind of take it as it goes. There’s obviously an impact. We obviously all respect him and his presence and everything on the bench. It’s not anything you take personal,” said Matthews.
The recent games have been a departure from Matthews’ usual stellar play, as he has struggled defensively and has been a -3 in each of the last two games. This marks the first time in his career that he has had consecutive games with a -3 rating or worse.
The sequence that led to Berube’s outburst saw Matthews misplay a pass in the slot, leading to a turnover and a goal against. Berube called it “lazy hockey,” emphasizing the importance of communication and defensive awareness in those situations. Matthews recognized the mistake, stating, “Covering the middle of the ice is obviously very important. We didn’t have that covered and they made us pay.”
Despite the recent setbacks, the Maple Leafs remain confident in their ability to bounce back and turn their fortunes around. The team knows they have the talent and the coaching to overcome these challenges and get back to their winning ways. They will look to apply the lessons learned from their recent struggles as they prepare to face the Boston Bruins on the road.