Craig Berube on Game 7 mentality: ‘Get the nerves out early, play direct, play for your teammates’

Craig Berube wants his Toronto Maple Leafs players to understand their role, and play for each other in Game 7.

Berube has prepared his team all season long for moments like Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena. He’s happy the series-deciding game is on home ice tonight in front of Leafs Nation, but speaking to reporters after Leafs’ morning skate, he emphasized some key factors that will need to be in play despite the benefit being home for such a big game. He’d like his team to keep things simple, and ensure each player finds ways to fight the nerves early on in the hockey game.

“You know, I think it’s excitement for our group. Playing at home here in front of our crowd, passionate crowd, passionate fans, passionate city,” Berube said. “But, don’t get caught up in it, ok? Like, just do what you did in Game 6. We know what to expect from Florida, that’s a great team over there. So, simplify your game, everyone’s a little nervous. Get the nerves out first couple of shifts, get going, and play direct. Be direct, rely on your teammates, because that’s what you’re playing for, your teammates.”

Berube’s confident that his team can run back their effort and sacrifice from a huge Game 6 win in Florida on Friday night, and ensure all the little details are fine-tuned, and he’s confident his group will play within their means.

“What I saw in Game 6 in Florida, and what I saw in Game 6 in Ottawa,” Berube said. “Those types of games and how we played them. Patient, disciplined, you know, simplified with the puck, and playing to our identity.”

Berube’s confidence and his certainly his composure have been two things that have stood out the most about his first season as the Maple Leafs’ bench boss. While some coaches would spend all day prepping a motivational speech of a lifetime ahead of such a meaningful game for the franchise, Berube doesn’t feel he needs to change his message to his group one bit.

“Well, you’re always thinking about things, and what’s going to be the most important statement you can make to your team today. And, that’s not only today, that’s a lot of games,” Berube said. “It doesn’t change a whole lot from me. It’s just about getting your mind right, and knowing what to expect, and understanding what each individual has to do out there each shift. I think that’s the most important thing.”

The Maple Leafs showed a ton of character pulling off a block party to win Game 6 and keep their season alive. While defensive details will be preached once again in Game 7, Berube is hopeful the Maple Leafs power play can show up with a much-needed sense of urgency to limit the Panthers’ abilities to be aggressive on the penalty kill.

“We do get some looks, we’re doing the right things. It hasn’t clicked lately, but, we have to continue to keep getting pucks into that area,” Berube continued. “That’s the key. They’re coming with a lot of pressure and you have to beat that pressure with a lot of shots. You have to beat their swarm when you can, and it’s a quick attack.”

There was some great news for the Maple Leafs as Matthew Knies is good to go for Game 7. That said, Berube isn’t ready to make excuses for any of his players who are playing through injuries at the moment, as he knows all the remaining teams are going through it, and Toronto must do whatever they can to not let the knicks and bruises effect their performance.

“This time of year, everyone is banged up, right. You play through a lot. You’re not injured, because you’re playing, but you’re banged up, and you’re hurt. There’s a lot of that, for a lot of teams and a lot of players, for sure. You know, this time of year, you play through it, right. It’s too important not to.”

Important is an understatement to say the least. Game 7, Panthers and Maple Leafs, with a legacy is on the line.