BOSTON — Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube remains optimistic about his team’s commitment to a more defensively sound game plan, despite them currently allowing an alarming 3.75 goals per game—the highest in the conference. Speaking at Boston’s TD Garden ahead of a matchup against the Bruins, Berube acknowledged the mixed results thus far.
“I do think the buy-in is there. We execute our plan effectively at times, but the consistency is lacking,” Berube commented on Tuesday. He added, “While we are scoring a lot of goals, sometimes our focus shifts too much towards offense rather than maintaining solid defensive play.”
Berube expressed concern over the team’s tendency to commit high-risk turnovers in the offensive zone and near the blue line, which he believes disrupts the flow and momentum of play. The situation has become particularly distressing following a weekend where the Leafs conceded 10 goals in two games and lost both.
In an effort to address these issues, the team held a thorough film session on their off-day after arriving in Boston. “Defensively, we’ve put ourselves in tough positions with turnovers, creating added pressure for the entire team,” Berube explained.
Berube emphasized the importance of being firmer in their zone and winning battles. He noted that their previous game against Carolina highlighted issues with puck retrieval in their own end, where they failed to capitalize on advantageous numbers.
To shake things up on defense, Berube and General Manager Brad Treliving discussed potential substitutions, including Dakota Mermis or top AHL prospect Henry Thrun. However, they will maintain the current defensive pairs for the game against Boston, which includes Philippe Myers, who has struggled since stepping in for the injured Chris Tanev.
As part of their tactical adjustments, the Leafs are splitting up star forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Berube explained the change aims to create more offensive threat across both lines, despite liking the chemistry of the duo.
An additional storyline leading into the matchup is the aftermath of Nikita Zadorov’s controversial hit on Scott Laughton from Saturday’s game, which ignited some strong reactions. Berube affirmed, “It’s a tough hit, and it should put some fire in you, but we must play smart.”
While the Leafs downplay a revenge motif against the Bruins, the game is set to be physical, reflecting the known fierce rivalry and history between the divisional opponents. Defenseman Jake McCabe noted, “Divisional matches always have a heightened intensity, and players are motivated to secure those two points.”
On the injury front, Joseph Woll is scheduled to play a full game with the Marlies before rejoining the Leafs if all goes well. Laughton (upper body) did not make the trip but intends to skate back in Toronto, while Mermis and Calle Järnkrok are expected to be healthy scratches. Boston welcomes back top defender Charlie McAvoy, which adds further intrigue to the matchup.
Projected lineup for the Maple Leafs against the Bruins includes:
Knies – Matthews – Robertson
McMann – Tavares – Nylander
Joshua – Roy – Maccelli
Lorentz – Domi – Blais
Rielly – Carlo
Benoit – McCabe
Ekman-Larsson – Myers
As the Leafs look to rectify their inconsistencies and firm up their defense, the clash against a formidable opponent like the Bruins presents an opportunity for growth and a potential turning point in the season.