HC Craig Berube calls out Auston Matthews and other Maple Leafs leaders' lack of urgency in dismal 6-3 loss to Oilers

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube did not mince words following his team’s 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night calling out a lack of urgency from the club’s leadership group inclduing captain Auston Matthews after another flat third-period performance at home.

The Leafs appeared in control for much of the first 40 minutes but a costly mistake late in the second period proved to be a turning point. With under 30 seconds remaining, Toronto threw a blind puck into the slot instead of executing a line change, got caught on the wrong side of the play and surrendered a goal that shifted momentum in Edmonton’s favour.

The Oilers took over from there, scoring five unanswered goals and dictating play throughout the third period. Speaking on that, Berube placed particular emphasis on the responsibility of Toronto’s leadership group to set the tone regardless of score or circumstance.

“Our leaders have to take control of it a lot more than they are right now. To me, it is all a mindset, whether you are down a goal or up, like we were in the San Jose game.” “You have to have more urgency and be more direct in how we want to play. We didn’t do it in the third period two games in a row,” he added.

Auston Matthews’ lack of urgency in the final period and extra frame of the Leafs’ previous game against the San Jose Sharks had previously also drawn the ire of Toronto fans.

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Craig Berube confirms William Nylander was dealing with an illness

Maple Leafs winger William Nylander did not see the ice for the final 6:07 of the game. He finished with just 13:46 of total ice time which was his lowest in a game since April 2023.

Head coach Craig Berube confirmed after the game that Nylander was dealing with illness and was far from full strength.

“He played tonight, but obviously, he wasn’t even close to 75%. I mean, he is sick. He played, but, you know… I didn’t think there was any reason to keep playing him,” he said.

Despite the lopsided score, Berube defended goaltender Dennis Hildeby who was pulled late in the game, noting fatigue rather than performance issues.

“He’s been through a lot,” Berube said. “He looked a little tired, but he played well again. He gave us a chance to win.”

The loss snapped Toronto’s six-game point streak and raised fresh questions about the team’s ability to close out games and dictate play when pressure rises, an issue Berube made clear must be addressed internally starting with the team’s top players.

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Edited by Anjum Rajonno