Maple Leafs Coach Assigns Blame for Game 5 Loss to Panthers

Asked to explain what went wrong, Berube pointed to everything.

"We just played slow … they were hungrier," Berube said. "It’s hard to explain it. We all need to be better. Myself included."

Florida opened the scoring late in the first and piled on five more goals through the midway point of the third. Goalie Joseph Woll, starting in place of injured starter Anthony Stolarz, was pulled after allowing five goals on 25 shots.

Nicholas Robertson was the lone Leafs player to score, 18:54 into the third frame.

"You can’t start the game that way, that’s a big thing for me. It sets a tone for the game," Berube said. "I don’t have an answer for you as to why. 

"It’s sports. Things happen."

Toronto fans booed the Leafs off the ice and began heading for the exits well before the final horn, with at least one jersey tossed onto the ice. 

Berube refused to blame a specific line or player. Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev, however, took full responsibility for the loss while addressing the media after the game.

“I’ll take responsibility,” Tanev said. “I need to be better. If I’m a minus player, we’re probably not going to win the game. 

”It’s on me. I’ll take responsibility for the game.”