Maple Leafs Coach Reveals Exact Message to Players Before Game 7

After a disciplined 2-0 win in Game 6 to extend their season, Craig Berube doesn’t want the Toronto Maple Leafs to change much ahead of Game 7 against the Florida Panthers.

Berube, who coached St. Louis to a Game 7 Stanley Cup win in 2019, has been clear about what he expects from his team.

“You have to move on from a tough game just like you have to move on from a good game,” Berube said on Saturday. “They did a good job of that and getting focused for the next one and being more determined.”

The Panthers outshot the Maple Leafs 37-23 on Friday but failed to capitalize on that volume, getting shut out by Toronto goalie Joseph Woll.

Berube praised the team’s urgency and structure in Game 6.

“I use that word ‘determination.’ I thought there was a lot of determination in Game 6,” Berube said. “That’s on them. They brought the emotion.”

But ahead of the franchise’s 28th Game 7, Berube’s focus remains on the basics. All Berube wants from his players is to put on a strong enough effort, trusting their star-level skill will eventually pop up and help them.

“We just got to work,” Berube said. “Got to kind of ‘work’ before ‘skill,’ and then the skill can take over at some point.”

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) fight to control the puck at Amerant Bank Arena.Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Berube’d like to keep things simple ahead of a high-stakes Game 7. That’s the message he’s sent to his players.

“Relax. Get rested. Focus on what we focused on in Game 6, really, with the way we played the game,“ Berube said. “I talked about the skating, being aggressive, managing the puck, and playing simply. That is really what you have to do in Game 7.

“I don’t think a whole lot needs to change. You have to be determined. You have to be desperate. And you have to have urgency.“

Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round between the Maple Leafs and Panthers is set for puck drop at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

“Game 7, at home, in Toronto–it’s pretty electric,” Berube said. “They’re fun. Everything’s on the line.”

Maple Leafs Coach Reveals Exact Message to Players Before Game 7

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