Furious John Tavares Sounds Off After Embarrassing Loss to Predators
Photo credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images
After a brutal 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, former captain John Tavares laid into his team and wants them to play angrier and purposefully.
Coming into Saturday's game on a three-game winning streak, the Toronto Maple Leafs had the chance to make it four against a lowly Predators squad that was coming off a bad loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Well it didn't happen, and though Toronto came out of the gates quick with two goals from Mitch Marner and John Tavares, it was the Maple Leafs who became prey as Nashville took advantage and put up a five-spot on the Atlantic Division champion hopefuls.
It was not the type of game Toronto needed, and it was a blemish on an otherwise solid group of performances.
Tavares was not happy post-game, and didn't take too kindly to how his team played, and implored them to play more 'pissed-off'.
We should be pissed off. It was a good opportunity to end a really good week...It should piss us off and get us ready for another big week.
This game should light a fire under the Maple Leafs and coming into a schedule that has some of the weakest teams in the league, there's really no excuse for the team to not come out and win each and every game.
Toronto's Apathetic Display Not A Good Sign Come Playoff Time
They let the Predators; who rank last in goals scored this season, put up a five goals flurry, and if they are being overworked and pressured by this type of team, what chance do they have against the likes of Florida or Tampa Bay?
It was a brutal display of giveaways, a lack of discipline, and the team couldn't seem to catch the Predators all night, being outshot the last two periods 26-14, and giving Joseph Woll nightmares at every turn.
Craig Berube was equally as frustrated as Tavares and seemed absolutely befuddled at his team's performance on Saturday night:
«That's mental. I haven't seen mental mistakes like we made tonight in a while.
They looked more hungry than us in the second period. They didn't give us a lot of room, but we didn't fight for it either.
It was a total flip they did. What we did to them in the first, they did to us in the second. And we had breakdowns that cost goals. And there was no reason for it.
It's 2-2 late in the (second) period. And we get caught in a 3-on-1 (that led to the game-winner). So that really explains it, right there.
They looked more hungry than us in the second period. They didn't give us a lot of room, but we didn't fight for it either.
It was a total flip they did. What we did to them in the first, they did to us in the second. And we had breakdowns that cost goals. And there was no reason for it.
It's 2-2 late in the (second) period. And we get caught in a 3-on-1 (that led to the game-winner). So that really explains it, right there.
Toronto can't afford to start acting complacent, especially at a time when the season is nearing its end and the playoffs are quickly approaching.
The team will get a chance to rectify their mistakes as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers at home in Scott Laughton's first game against his former club on Tuesday in a must-win game.
| POLL | ||
MARS 23 | 671 ANSWERS Furious John Tavares Sounds Off After Embarrassing Loss to Predators Do you think John Tavares has the right to be furious with the Maple Leafs after their performance against Nashville? | ||
| Absolutely! | 665 | 99.1 % |
| No way! | 6 | 0.9 % |
| List of polls | ||