The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing tough times, and head coach Craig Berube didn't hold back his disappointment after their latest loss. The Leafs fell 7-4 to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, marking their fifth consecutive home loss. This defeat puts them eight points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The team's struggles on home ice are raising concerns as they head out west for a four-game road trip before the Olympic break in February.
Berube addressed reporters after the game, making his frustration clear. "We gotta keep the puck out of our net, is what I learned, and we didn't do that here at home," Berube stated. He emphasized the need for the entire team, including the goalies, to prioritize preventing goals. "Until we decide to do things right and keep the puck out of our net - and that's the goalies included - this is what you're going to get," the coach added.
The Maple Leafs allowed a concerning 25 goals during their five-game home stand, including six against both the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, and seven against the Sabres. Berube highlighted several areas needing improvement, such as managing the game, puck play, avoiding odd-man rushes, and displaying greater defensive effort. "There's no more than that, I don't want to talk about it anymore, that's all it is," Berube said, per TSN. Despite scoring enough goals to win, the Leafs' inability to defend is costing them crucial games.
Earlier in the week, Berube made headlines for a gym accident that left him with a black eye and nearly 50 stitches. While he joked about the incident, his focus has remained on the team's performance. The Leafs need to turn things around quickly if they hope to contend for a playoff spot, and Berube's message is clear: tighten up defensively or face the consequences.
