Craig Berube outlines neutral zone disconnection after Leafs’ blowout loss to Blue Jackets

Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Arun Srinivasan | Last updated Oct 30, 2025 9:20 AM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube outlined his team’s struggle to defend against the rush, following a 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night.

It was easily the worst game of the Maple Leafs’ season, as the Blue Jackets were able to glide through the offensive zone with little resistance. John Tavares and Nick Robertson added third-period markers, while Sammy Blais scored in his season debut. Tavares notched the 500th goal of his career but did not celebrate, as the Maple Leafs were trailing 6-2 late in the third period.

“For me, it’s just complicating the game at times tonight,” Berube said post-game. “We got burned on it. We forced pucks when we didn’t need to and turned them over. They came at us, and as we’ve talked about, they’re a talented and good rush team. They capitalized on their opportunities. More than anything, that is what it boils down to. I just felt like we were disconnected at times getting through the neutral zone. It cost us.”

️ | Craig Berube | Post Game vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | Oct 29 pic.twitter.com/SF6aCEoJBf

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 30, 2025

Berube also sought to find elements to build from, as the Maple Leafs resume their schedule against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

“There were a lot of good things tonight, too. We had a lot of good opportunities and offensive-zone time. We didn’t capitalize on them well enough, obviously. If you don’t take care of the puck and don’t take care of certain teams’ tendencies, you can get burned by it. That is what happened tonight.”

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews offered a similar assessment post-game.

“I don’t think it’s an effort thing. Guys worked hard. I thought we competed. Just when breakdowns happen and mistakes happen, they’re too big,” Matthews said. “I think it’s more a cerebral thing than an effort thing.”

It may be more of an issue if it’s a cerebral thing. Through 11 games, the Maple Leafs’ inability to defend the rush has been their greatest area of concern, and it may end up being their Achilles heel if they can’t figure out a way to stop the counterattack.

This article first appeared on TheLeafsnation and was syndicated with permission.

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