Craig Berube Defends Struggling Maple Leafs With Surprising Excuse

Though they gave it a valiant effort on Thursday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs ended up falling 3-2 to the Florida Panthers in a crucial divisional matchup that saw Florida outplay the Leafs even though they were outmanned; being without three key players.

So what exactly could be the cause? Are there some hidden injuries and ailments that the team isn't making fans aware of?

Well, according to head coach Craig Berube, it's the simplest, but most important thing any athlete needs to have: Rest.

The team has played a lot of hockey recently, though it's not as bad as it was early in the year. It doesn't slow down for them however, with five games in their next eight days, and the team will need to take a break at some point to gather themselves mentally and physically.

It doesn't help that Berube is notorious for pushing his players at practice and during games, and the amount of injuries and games lost due to players being absent this season is a worrying concern.

Is Berube's style of play too hard for the modern game? Is Toronto's medical staff missing key signs of injury?

It's hard to say, it's how the sport always seems to be. But there are patterns. Berube instills a work hard, play hard, gritty mentality. Does that apply just to playing? Or does it also involve gritting through some injuries for the sake of being on the team, actually making things worse?

There are so many questions surrounding whether or not the Maple Leafs are set up properly for the playoffs, and the fact they aren't well rested now doesn't bode well for a Stanley Cup run that will be ten times as tough and tiring on all faculties.

If things don't change for the Leafs, they may find themselves getting tired quicker, injured more often, and set up for another dismal failure in the playoffs.

But we just have to take things day to day, and luckily for us; that doesn't spell disaster like when Craig Berube says it.