Craig Berube says team leaders need to take more control after blowout loss to Oilers

It was a frustrating night for the Toronto Maple Leafs to say the least, giving up five unanswered goals on their way to a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

The team was lifeless and sluggish all night, and if it weren't for the heroics of the fourth line, it could have been a lot worse for the Maple Leafs. It was yet another quiet night from their stars, and it's getting concerning they are going cold at the worst possible time.

But it's not just their lack of offense that's drawing criticism, as it seems like they haven't pushed themselves into a second gear, and it was apparent quickly that the Oilers were going to control the game all night.

That irked Craig Berube to no end, and he was fed up with his team's lack of control on Saturday. But in his critiques, he pointed to specific players on the team who need to start picking up their weight:

It wasn't directed at specific names, but with the leaders comment we can deduce at least a few names.

Well off the bat, we have to start with the captain. Auston Matthews has only seven points in his last nine games and while that's respectable, it's not the elite numbers they need.

He's seemingly lost his ability to take over games, and the lightning quick shot we saw in years past is all but gone. He has 21 points in 25 games (13 goals, 8 assists) with only one multi-goal game this season.

Until he starts picking things up again like we've seen (if he even can), it's going to keep frustrating Berube if he can't slow things down and get the team going.

There's also William Nylander but you can't fault him due to him being way less that 100% on Saturday night and was playing through an illness.

But you can start getting concerned about John Tavares, who only has three points over his last nine games after starting the season with 27 points in his first 21 games.

His defense is also slipping a bit, and while he's winning face-offs, that doesn't move the needle right now. Of all the people, Tavares can make a difference, and it's about time he starts doing so again.

Another person that Berube could be referring to is defenseman Morgan Rielly, who has been solid, but has still shown that he's prone to some serious defensive miscues, and if he can't get focused; it's going to drive Berube nuts.

But if anything Rielly has been the backbone of the offense recently, and his season has been a much better one overall than last year; so he deserves credit for sure.

We probably will never find out who Craig Berube was referring to, but the Maple Leafs certainly need their leaders and especially their captain to pick things up.

If not, then it's going to be a swift exit from the playoffs, if they even make it there in the first place.