Fiery Message from Craig Berube Sets the Tone Ahead of Game 1 vs. Senators
Craig Berube held nothing back when trying to spark his team ahead of their first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It's not unusual to see the Maple Leafs head coach being a bit fired up a times, often screaming instructions at his players, or while voicing his distaste for some of the officiating.
But often he's more stoic and reserved in media comments, often taking a calmer approach and keeping his cards close to his chest when it comes to his lineups or any injuries the team is dealing with.
However, with arguably the most important playoff series since the Matthews era began, Berube understands that his team will need some motivation going forward.
Boy, did he give some:
Don't turn your phone on. Don't turn the TV on. It's hard. It's around. It's part of it.
Compete your ass off & play as hard as you can and good things happen. You can control those things. You can control your effort & your competitiveness.
Compete your ass off & play as hard as you can and good things happen. You can control those things. You can control your effort & your competitiveness.
Berube is doing the team a service trying to get their attention away from the outside noise.
Loads of pundits, commentators, analysts, fans, and everyone under the hockey umbrella has a comment or two about the Maple Leafs and any negativity could make Toronto pay dearly in the playoffs.
The effort and competitiveness will be off the charts, and with a pair of teams who are such bitter rivals; things are going to be even more intense.
Not to mention the atmosphere is going to be off the charts when Toronto heads to Ottawa for Games Three and Four.
Ottawa is already trying to create a stir, and if the Maple Leafs can't block out the noise, it's going to be rough for that little stretch.
Give credit to Berube too. He's done a great job at making Toronto a more well rounded squad, and his no-nonsense attitude is exactly what the team needed to push them over the edge.
He's already won the most games for a debut coach in franchise history; why not add a Stanley Cup to the mix as well?
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 19 | 519 ANSWERS Fiery Message from Craig Berube Sets the Tone Ahead of Game 1 vs. Senators Do you think Craig Berube is the reason Toronto was so successful this season? | ||
| Yes | 461 | 88.8 % |
| No | 58 | 11.2 % |
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