If Craig Berube feels the need to bark at his players during practice, he’s not going to fight the urge.
Twice on Friday at the Ford Performance Centre, the Maple Leafs coach whistled the proceedings to a halt, stressing in a not-so-gentle manner to the group to keep its intensity up.
“We don’t want to get complacent, right?” Berube said. “That’s the biggest thing, staying sharp.
“I stopped it a couple times and it was just execution for me, being sharp and executing. It sort of goes back to the last game.”
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That would be the 6-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. The Leafs had 5-0 lead in the third period and gave up two goals, resulting in a timeout being called by Berube after Kevin Fiala’s scored the second Kings goal.
After Berube let his feelings be known, the Leafs nailed it down and gave the Kings little space in what remained of the game.
“(Ahead) 5-0, you take your foot off the gas a little bit,” Berube said. “We don’t want to do that.”
The music that Sheldon Keefe would have played during practices is long gone and the big speakers haven’t been seen since.
Berube’s direct approach, undertaken a little less subtly than Keefe, is fine with the group.
To be sure, Berube hasn’t had much to be upset about so far. When the New York Rangers visit on Saturday, the Leafs will look to extend a three-game winning streak after losing the season-opener in Montreal against the Canadiens.
“He keeps guys honest,” winger Nick Robertson said. “You don’t want to be lackadaisical in practice. You want a coach that’s hard on you and expects better, and that’s what brings the best out of us.”
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