Craig Berube Issues Urgent Message to Maple Leafs After Disappointing Game 5 Loss

It certainly was not the game that the Leafs, their fans, or anyone except Ottawa wanted. Being shutout with the amount of firepower the team has is inexcusable, and the stars once again are failing to show up when it matters.

It's frustrating to watch frankly, and the team only has two more games to get things done, or choke a 3-0 lead and all but assure themselves as the biggest failures this season; they won the division, had home-ice advantage and need one game to win. If they can't get it done now, will it ever be the time?

Craig Berube's aware of this and is doing what he can to try and motivate his team ahead of a critical Game 6 in Ottawa. Speaking to media after the terrible defeat, the bench boss had a simple message for his team:

There's a double edged sword when it comes to sticking with things. Sure, the team got here in the first place sticking with what works, but that's over 82 games, not seven.

Some players have been brutal and completely nonexistent this series. Bobby McMann should probably sit for a game to reset his focus, Nick Robertson should probably find himself back in, and Max Pacioretty and Max Domi could use a bit of a wake up call as well.

But that's nothing compared to Matthews and other players like Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly need to get their offense going a bit more; yes they have a lot of points but they need to score; Rielly has as many goals as Marner and Matthews combined.

Something needs to change, and for Berube it might be changing the lineup, giving Joseph Woll a start, or maybe he doesn't need to do anything at all; the onus is on the players after all.

Game 5 was undoubtedly the team's worst of the series, and the once staunch and solid defense seemed to have some holes still. It's not the end of the world, and there's no real reason to panic too hard.

Though if the team heads into the Canadian Tire Centre with a series lead, and walk out with things square at three apiece?

Craig Berube better do everything he can to change things quick, or watch his hopes fade away.

Some things never change eh?