Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was surprisingly critical of his team following a hard-fought win against the Edmonton Oilers on Hockey Night in Canada.
The Toronto Maple Leafs secured a thrilling 4-3 victory against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday evening, snapping a three-game losing streak and getting back into the win column.
The game was a tense back-and-forth affair, with the Leafs jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. However, they nearly let the game slip away when Connor McDavid appeared to tie it late in the third, only for the goal to be waved off due to a delayed offside call.
Despite the win, head coach Craig Berube was critical of his team's overall effort.
'We got the lead, and I thought we could've made a harder push. We let them come at us too much. They are a very good team; we know that, and they have great players. We did a lot of good things, but I think we could've been more aggressive with the lead. We got the 4-1 lead right away. I am not critiquing wins - wins are wins, and they're good - but we could've pushed a little bit more on them. Woll was great. The guys battled. It was a playoff battle type of game. A lot of credit to their team. They're very good.'
Despite the victory, Berube expressed disappointment in his team's performance after taking a commanding 3-0 lead early in the game.
This isn't the first time Berube has criticized his team after a win. Earlier in the season, he voiced concerns about Auston Matthews' play as he returned from injury, saying that Matthews wasn't doing enough even though the team was winning.
Berube is known for his straightforward, no-nonsense coaching style, something that's especially valuable in a high-pressure media market like Toronto. His willingness to speak his mind helps minimize speculation and keep expectations in check.
While he may be critical, Berube is also quick to praise his players when deserved. He recently spoke highly of veteran defenseman Chris Tanev, suggesting he would be a great fit for Team Canada in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, following news that Alex Pietrangelo would not be participating.
The Maple Leafs will look to build on their gritty win when they face the Calgary Flames on Tuesday in their second game of a 4-game road trip.
