Craig Berube | Pre Game @ Washington Capitals | December 18, 2025

Craig, what do you want to see from your team tonight following what you saw from them to the last game? >> A lot of like the third period, you know, um, you know, we came in here last time we, you know, we had the lead going in the third period. I thought we played a pretty good game till that point and we got we let them come back on us and get a couple goals in the third. But, um, you know, I think just getting to our game here right away, like coming out on our toes, skating, attacking, um, you know, just playing to our identity, getting pucks deep right away and and and going to work on that decor over there and forcing them into bad puck plays. Um, you know, they’re a very good rush team. They got, you know, they uh, very active D, so we’re going to have to be really good off the rush here tonight. Uh, defending >> to be tonight, >> pardon me. >> Hell to be tonight. >> Hell to be tonight. Do you foresee using Joseph and Dennis in kind of a tandem or are you waiting for one of them to really take it right now? >> No, not not necessarily. I think um just with Wool coming back off of injury, playing that game. Um you know, we thought about him tonight again, but I think it’s important that we um make sure that he’s rested and ready to go for the next one. >> What are you looking to see from East with the I guess you switched the mid game? Yeah, in the third period I thought that they created a lot more. Um, you know, Robbiey’s got speed on that line and uh Eastston, too. And just, you know, Eastston’s there to to um, you know, he can make plays and, um, you know, he found those guys a couple times on some plays. So hopefully maybe that line can um, get some chemistry and um, produce for us a little bit. >> In your mind, how seriously should US hockey be considering that for the Olympic team? Well, that’s not my call. I mean, I think he’s obviously in consideration for sure. He’s he’s a real good player and then he’s got size and strength and um you know, whatever they decide what direction they want to go in in terms of what types of players, but uh you know, I think he can be a real compliment to to some of the skill and talent they have over in the USA side. and uh just a guy that’s going to forch check hard and be a heavy player around the net and being around the net that front and being physical. Um you know, he could be a real good player for him, but hopefully it it happens, but that’s not my call. >> Dakota seems to have really turned a corner. Why do you think that is? >> I just think he’s got his feet under him a little bit more. I thought he was a little, you know, we talked and stuff. He he was a little bit um just slow slow with um overthinking things. I think probably wanted to uh you know, you come to a new team, you’re trying to um find some form and some chemistry here. And I think he’s just probably overthinking it. He’s just playing now. He’s doing a good job. He’s physical. He he’s moving his feet better and that line’s got some chemistry, right? So, I think that’s really helped. >> Look like you’re having a long conversation with me. >> Yeah, just about where he’s at. And um you know, we got to get him in there here soon. Um I’d like to anyhow, you know, um he you know, he’s been out long enough and you know, just different circumstances not playing, but um you know, we need him and we you know, talk conversation was he this guy’s a good player. He’s been a good player before and he can be a good player again and what he needs to do to be a good player and um my job is to get him in the lineup. >> Are you sensing frustration from him at all? >> No, none. None. None. Not not not at all. He’s a very he’s um he he knows that he’s got to be better and he knows he can be better and uh he understands the whole situation very well and I don’t sense frustration from them. >> The Capitals defenseman have a combined 86 points this season which is second most in the league. >> How do you slow them down? >> Well, like I talked about they’re very good rush team right with their D are very active and they do a good job in the offensive zone. Um, so we, like I said, we got to for check them well tonight and slow them down. That’ll be a big key. And then just making sure we’re getting above them all night. >> When you think about your time with the Capitals, what stands out the the most? What do you What do you >> um Yeah, I think more than anything, you know, Dale Hunter and I were um teammates for a long time here. I formed a great friendship with him. Coming in here, I just I couldn’t I wanted to kill him from the days in Philly. But we became good friends and just I I think more than anything just um all the great uh people that I I was able to work with here and play for and trainers and players. I made a lot of good friendships here. I was here a long time and uh you know that you know the run we had to the Stanley Cup finals that year was a was something you know I remember a lot of was a great run and uh yeah it was a I I really enjoyed my time here. >> Happy belated by the way. Oh, thank you. >> How did you c how did you celebrate yesterday? >> Uh, low key, boys. We just got a got together with the coaches and the trainers at the hotel and had a nice meal. They they treated me. It was great.

Head Coach Craig Berube addresses the media ahead of tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals.

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