Craig Berube offers blunt assessment after Maple Leafs' fifth straight loss
Photo credit: Toronto Maple Leafs - X
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was honest in his observation of where his team's focus is after losing their fifth straight game.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the middle of a five-game losing streak, capped by a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The effort against Chicago was stronger than some recent outings, but it didn't change the result. They are under .500 with an 8-9-2 record, though the Eastern Conference at the moment is a free for all and with a bit of momentum they can turn things around.
What Craig Berube actually said after the Leafs' fifth straight loss
Craig Berube seemed confident in his team's play despite the loss, but he noted post-game that a couple of costly mistakes were the tipping point.
When asked about what happened to cause the late game collapse, Berube was honest in his assessment, and explained the difference between this year and last:
Two mistakes in the third period. That's about it. I don't know. Last year, we were excellent at it [closing out games].
Right now, we are a little bit unconfident. We have to get through that. We had the lead, and we had the opportunity to close out a win. We had a power play in the third, and we didn't do anything with it, either.
Right now, we are a little bit unconfident. We have to get through that. We had the lead, and we had the opportunity to close out a win. We had a power play in the third, and we didn't do anything with it, either.
Toronto limited chances for large stretches, but two third-period breakdowns erased their work but their defense was shaky and Philippe Myers; who was on for Chicago's tying goal, saw limited ice time after that.
What his post-game message tells us about where this team is at
It's part of a bigger pattern: Toronto has blown back-to-back leads, even when given chances to extend them.
Berube feels good about the team despite their play and list of injuries, which is great that the coach has faith, but that needs to start leading to results, something that he commented on after the Chicago loss:
I have to motivate them the best way I can. Maybe it's a kick in the ass, but maybe it is positive reinforcement, too. We did a lot of good things. I think we had 11 or 12 grade-A chances tonight, and we only got two goals out of it.
We'd score more than that, for the most part. You're going to have games like that.
Tonight, we trended in the right direction, but we still have to do a better job.
Little things decide games, and tonight, there were two little things that cost us the hockey game.
We'd score more than that, for the most part. You're going to have games like that.
Tonight, we trended in the right direction, but we still have to do a better job.
Little things decide games, and tonight, there were two little things that cost us the hockey game.
The hard-edged messaging from Berube hasn't produced results yet so his realization that he may need to start giving out positive reinforcement could alleviate some of the tension.
No one wants to walk on eggshells, and if the team can rally around what they are doing right and not what's going wrong; they can improve slowly.
This isn't an easy fix, and no one roster player is going to change everything, but if players can focus on what's working instead of gripping their sticks tighter, they may gradually stabilize.
The Maple Leafs are in a bad spot compared to last season. If this mix of 'we're close' messaging and small tweaks doesn't translate into wins soon, the conversation is going to shift from systems to personnel.
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