Craig Berube Makes History After Win Against The Buffalo Sabres
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube made history on Sunday night against the Buffalo Sabres as the team made a huge comeback win.
In Sunday's victory over the Buffalo Sabres, Leafs head coach Craig Berube secured himself another victory in his coaching career. It was especially sweet as the team came back from down 2-0 and 3-1 to get a 5-3 win.
Thanks to a hat-trick from John Tavares as well as goals from both Nick Robertson and Max Domi (yes, you read that right) the Leafs beat the Sabres and also handed Berube his 300th career win.
Craig Berube's Coaching Career
The man affectionately known as 'Chief' was a no-nonsense gritty enforcer during his time as a player in the NHL. After retiring in 2003, Berube eventually transitioned into a coach.
Starting with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2013-14, Berube coached them for two seasons and finished with a 75-58-28 record. It took him a few years to get back as head coach, but led the St. Louis Blues to the Stanley Cup in 2018-19 after a stunning mid-season turnaround.
He spent six years with the Blues and registered a 206-132-44 record with the Blues before being fired a third of the way into last year's season.
Hired by the Maple Leafs this summer to replace Sheldon Keefe, the team has undergone a transition into a more defensively savvy and grittier group of players. It's paid off too, as Toronto sits first in the Atlantic Division and hold some of the best defense in the league.
Fans might not appreciate the understated nature of Berube and his media presence while hilarious at times, often leads to speculation about certain players as the coach is so quiet about performances, often using the word "fine" to describe how one did during the game.
So far, Toronto has found success under Berube and their new identity has given them new life. While they may not be scoring as much as usual, there's no denying their new style of play has given them the best possible chance at success now, and in the postseason.
