The Maple Leafs are in trouble, and fans are getting restless.
The team just dropped their fifth straight game, falling 3-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night. Their record has now slipped to a disappointing 8-9-2.
Head coach Craig Berube thinks he knows what’s wrong.
“Right now, we’re just a little bit unconfident,” Berube said after the loss at United Center. “Gotta get through that because we had an opportunity to close this game out and win it.”
But confidence isn’t the only issue plaguing Toronto. The problems run deeper.
The team keeps falling apart in the third period. They’ve given up 72 goals already this season. Their goaltending has been shaky at best.
Berube’s trying different approaches to right the ship.
“I have to motivate them the best way I can,” he explained. “Maybe it’s a kick in the a–, but maybe it is positive reinforcement, too. We did a lot of good things.”
He pointed to the team creating “11 or 12 grade-A chances” against Chicago, though they only managed to score twice.
But pep talks and motivation won’t fix what’s really broken. The Leafs need to make serious changes to how they play the game.
They’re struggling with basic defensive coverage around their net. Players seem confused about their responsibilities. Opposing teams are finding it way too easy to make passes through the middle of Toronto’s defense.
Even getting the puck out of their own zone has become a challenge. The team keeps turning it over along the boards or being forced to ice it.
These aren’t confidence problems. They’re system problems.
Until Berube and his coaching staff fix these fundamental issues, all the positive reinforcement in the world won’t help. The Leafs need a clear game plan and the practice time to make it work.
Only then will the confidence naturally return.
