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Head Coach Craig Berube Calls Maple Leafs Out Over One Key Issue that Needs Correcting
Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube calls it like he sees it and following a 5-1 loss to Florida, Berube made sure his team knew why he was upset with the loss.
Currently sitting in first place in the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs would be wise to avoid falling into a state of complacency.
The Leafs are in an excellent position at the quartermark of the season, and if they can keep their foot on the gas, Craig Berube's crew may not only win the Atlantic Division this season, but they could yet challenge for the Eastern Conference title as top team in the East, sitting just 6 points back of the New Jersey Devils.
In order for the Leafs to have a shot at putting themselves in a strong position to go on a lengthy playoff run, there are a few things, in Berube's mind, that the team will need to do. Staying out of the penalty box is one of them.
Stick infractions are frustrating penalties for any coach. Especially one like Berube, who often reminds his players to control their sticks. That's why when William Nylander took a 4-minute double-minor for cross checking and Conor Timmins followed that up with a 2-minute minor for high-sticking against Florida on Wednesday, Berube had to address it.
"I say stuff. You've got to have better control of your stick. And to me, there was no reason for it to happen. He should have just worked his way to the net without even being near the guy. Things happen. You're not in their body. You don't know what they're thinking at the time. So, we have to all be better.
I thought we took some needless penalties in that game that cost us. You take six [penalty] minutes in the third period and you're down 3-1, it's going to be tough. It's making it really difficult to come back in the game."
I thought we took some needless penalties in that game that cost us. You take six [penalty] minutes in the third period and you're down 3-1, it's going to be tough. It's making it really difficult to come back in the game."
Nylander, who was recently elevated fo a new-look top line for the Maple Leafs, was lucky to avoid a suspension on this one. We've seen similar cross checks earn a player a 1 or 2-game suspension in the past, and for a banged up Leafs forward corps, the team is lucky that the Department of Player Safety overlooked this one.
Nylander revealed after the game that he didn't mean to clip the defender in the face with his stick. He had more or less expected to be boxed out and was preparing for the defender to turn into him. However, the Swedish winger still may have caught the Panthers defenseman in the back of the head with his stick, so I'm not sure his story holds up here.
For Berube, a very hard-nosed player in his day, if you're going to the box, you should definitely earn it. Stick infractions and delay of game penalties are the types of penalties where the juice just isn't worth the squeeze. These are very avoidable penalties.
I'm sure if Nylander had taken a penalty for sticking up for a teammate, this is probably a conversation between the coach and the player that never happens. Nylander might even get a pat on the shoulder pads in that instance. However, a stick to the face is just careless play that no coach enjoys -- especially in a close game.
Berube and the Leafs are in Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning tonight. Hopefully the boys can remain disciplined and in control of their sticks in yet another important divisional matchup against a heated rival.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 30 | 1937 ANSWERS Head Coach Craig Berube Calls Maple Leafs Out Over One Key Issue that Needs Correcting Are you surprised that William Nylander wasn't suspended for cross-checking the Panthers defenseman in the face? | ||
| Yes | 759 | 39.2 % |
| No | 1178 | 60.8 % |
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