Craig Berube challenges the Toronto Maple Leafs after Ottawa loss
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Craig Berube ripped the Toronto Maple Leafs after the Ottawa Senators loss, and the Battle of Ontario felt ugly fast.
Ottawa beat Toronto 5-2 on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs are now 27-24-9.
Berube's message was simple, coaches cannot hand out «heart» or «head.» Players have to bring it.
That hit because the first period was a warning siren. Ottawa outshot Toronto 16-2.
It got worse, the Senators fired 19 straight shots until Auston Matthews finally tested Linus Ullmark early in the second.
Morgan Rielly scored first, but Ottawa kept coming anyway. The puck lived in Toronto's end.
Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson each scored twice, and Thomas Chabot added a goal. Ottawa improved to 29-22-8.
Joseph Woll wore five goals on 28 shots and Anthony Stolarz had to jump in late in the second.
Craig Berube and the Toronto Maple Leafs lose their edge
Leafs fans are tired of watching talent stall when the game turns into a fight for ice.
William Nylander scored, and Toronto still looked a step behind on every loose puck. The Leafs have dropped three straight.
This is the tactical problem, wingers leak early, breakouts turn into chips, and the blue line defends forever.
The man advantage cannot save you when your five-on-five details vanish. Ottawa punished turnovers and won races.
Toronto's response matters more than the quote now, because the next game is where pride has to show up first.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 1|232 ANSWERS Craig Berube challenges the Toronto Maple Leafs after Ottawa loss Will Craig Berube's message change the Toronto Maple Leafs effort level? | ||
| Yes | 18 | 7.8 % |
| No | 214 | 92.2 % |
| List of polls | ||