Craig Berube Admits He Has 'No Answer' for Leafs' Slow Start Despite Strong Finish
Photo credit: Toronto Maple Leafs
While his team came out victorious, Craig Berube was more stunned than anything not for the Maple Leafs' comeback, but for how they played for the first 40 minutes.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were coming into the game Monday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins with one goal which was to come out strong against a team who is suddenly one of the hottest teams in the NHL to start the season.
We saw exactly why they were so strong as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead and absolutely dominated the team in shots and chances, and it looked hopeless until the Maple Leafs somehow managed to pull off a stunning 4-3 comeback win.
The four unanswered goals took everyone by surprise, however captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander both felt like the team had to reflect more on their mistakes than their successes.
Berube's Candid Post-Game Comments Expose the Leafs' Biggest Issue
For Craig Berube, he must feel a bit vindicated knowing his lineup changes paid off, however post-game, he was blunt, honest, and downright bewildered.
Speaking to reporters post-game, the head coach was more stunned than anything, and was left literally speechless regarding his team's performance:
I have no clue. I don't have an answer for that right now. The second period they got the puck & did whatever they wanted with it ... I mean, it's not good enough.
Not only was it not good enough, but what got Berube frustrated most of all was something he stressed heavily this offseason which is making less mental mistakes:
That's all mental for me. It's all mental for me. (pause) It's gotta be better. That's the bottom line.
At one point in the game, Berube was seen on the bench literally pursing his eyes and contemplating exactly what he had gotten himself into on Monday:
You have to feel for the head coach, who has seemingly done everything he can to make something stick and it just hasn't.
Toronto's Late Surge Shows What This Team Could Be When It Cares
But coming back down from 3-0 shows some seriously renewed energy. When the team focuses and plays the game they are meant to, look what happens. Relentless forechecking, crashing the net and pounding shots.
We saw this type of game last season, and while the team hadn't given up nearly the amount of goals or chances like last season, they played probably their best 20 minutes of the season and need to do that every shift, not one period.
Often times it felt like the team didn't like each other at times, and felt very cold in terms of getting any type of rhythm going.
Hopefully this was the straw that broke the camel's back, and going forward the team has to put in a full 60-minute effort and not turn on the jets only when they're backed against a wall.
This is a dangerous hockey team, and while we may have only seen it for 20 minutes, expect that to be the last time they put in a weak effort.
They have no excuses now after showing what they can do.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 4|1138 ANSWERS Craig Berube Admits He Has 'No Answer' for Leafs' Slow Start Despite Strong Finish Should Craig Berube be frustrated with the Toronto Maple Leafs' play so far this season? | ||
| Yes | 1048 | 92.1 % |
| No | 90 | 7.9 % |
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