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Leafs Coach Craig Berube Makes Baffling Comments About Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube made some comments about Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner following Game 5 that left many in Leafs Nation scratching their heads.
Booed off the ice at the end of the second period of last night's blowout loss, the Leafs also witnessed jerseys being thrown onto the ice in what many would consider their worst game of the season on Wednesday night.
Following the game, Leafs head coach Craig Berube slammed his team's lack of effort from the moment the puck dropped.
"In the first period, they out-skated us. They had the puck and won the races. We played slowly. They were fast and on us. They were hungrier. That's the first period, and it sets the tone for the game. We all have to be better, myself included. You can't start the game that way. That is a big thing for me. It sets a tone for the game."
While he wasn't pleased with the Leafs' effort, when asked about the offensive play of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the veteran bench boss actually defended the duo.
"I am not going to look at a certain group of players. It is everybody, myself included. They are going against the Barkov line, for the most part. If you look at the matchup throughout the series, it is pretty tight. There is not going to be a lot of room out there.
They have done a good job, up until tonight, against that line. That is part of their job. I get it. We need our top guys to produce. But they have done a lot of good things up until this point. Tonight wasn't a good game for anybody - anybody."
They have done a good job, up until tonight, against that line. That is part of their job. I get it. We need our top guys to produce. But they have done a lot of good things up until this point. Tonight wasn't a good game for anybody - anybody."
Berube's comments on Matthews and Marner caught many by surprise, given their lack of production during the series, with Matthews yet to register a goal and Marner's inability to create much offense at even strength.
Heading into Game 6 on Friday night, the Leafs will need their best players to finally be their best players. Otherwise, there will be a Saturday morning tee-time in Sunrise.
| POLL | ||
MAI 15 | 3450 ANSWERS Leafs Coach Craig Berube Makes Baffling Comments About Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews Would you break up Matthews and Marner for Game 6 | ||
| Yes | 1717 | 49.8 % |
| No | 1324 | 38.4 % |
| Should have been done for Game 5 | 409 | 11.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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