Toronto Hockey Daily has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL or NHLPA
Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube Thumbs His Nose at the Panthers Ahead of Game 1
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube dismissed the Florida Panthers' style of play ahead of Game 1 of their second round matchup Monday night.
A busy week for the Leafs and Panthers with Game 1 kicking things off Monday night, the Leafs took to the ice for their final full practice on Sunday minus Mitch Marner who welcomed a baby boy.
Following practice, Berube was asked about the Panthers and their 'mean' style of play which led to the Leafs' bench boss complimenting his team while also discrediting the Panthers a tad.
"Are they mean? They play a hard game. They forecheck hard, they're physical and they're in your face the whole game. I don't necessarily think it's mean. That's just their game.
We're a physical team too and we have to go out and be physical ourselves and initiate as much as possible. I thought Ottawa did the same thing, and I thought we handled it well."
We're a physical team too and we have to go out and be physical ourselves and initiate as much as possible. I thought Ottawa did the same thing, and I thought we handled it well."
The Panthers are certainly much more experienced than the Senators, but Berube is not wrong in stating that Ottawa played a similar style to what the Panthers play. Many members of Leafs Nation were concerned at times during the Leafs' first-round series against the Senators due to their physicality and speed.
However, the Stanley Cup winning coach did not seem concerned and believes the Leafs can play just as physical as the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
| POLL | ||
MAI 5 | 3668 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube Thumbs His Nose at the Panthers Ahead of Game 1 Who do you think is the better NHL head coach? | ||
| Paul Maurice | 929 | 25.3 % |
| Craig Berube | 2739 | 74.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
