"We finally got some contact from somebody, which was good, because if you're not gonna take the body on this team and let them skate around all night, we're gonna be in trouble."
It was a colossal, yet legal hit, and Pacioretty firing up his team by not showing remorse is something Berube has stressed all year.
The strategy for Toronto has been to hit a lot, be gritty, and don't give up on the play.
The new game plan of Berube's has worked so far but Toronto needs to continue following what's brought them to success. The team has a total of 657 hits, leading to an average of 23 hits a game, and the amount of size the team has, they have to keep throwing weight around.
Pacioretty himself has 45 hits, and while it's not a large amount compared to other players, considering he was signed to bring offensive depth and wasn't expected to bring such aggressiveness, especially coming off serious injuries.
It comes with the territory as Berube won't care if you're a superstar or a fourth-liner, he wants to show some bite on the ice.
This shows that Berube expects everyone to pull their weight and if you let teams skate around you as the Leafs head coach alluded to, it's going to lead to failure.
By establishing a bit of intimidation, Toronto can continue their rise in the Atlantic as they search for their first Stanley Cup in 57 years.