Maple Leafs HC Craig Berube unloads frustration after 5-2 loss to Canadiens: "It's inexcusable"

The troubles for the Toronto Maple Leafs continued as they lost 5-2 on the road to the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Saturday. The Leafs have just three points in their last eight games and remain second last in the Atlantic Division standings.

Injuries have plagued the Leafs in recent games. They played Saturday's game without forwards Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, Nicolas Roy, and defensemen Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo. Jake McCabe joined that list after he didn't complete the game following a puck to the face.

Leafs head coach Craig Berube sounded frustrated during his media scrum on Saturday, but acknowledged that a veteran team like the Leafs shouldn't put up a bland performance like they did despite taking injuries.

"It makes it difficult, for sure, but again, it is what it is," Berube said. "This is what we have. We have to be better. That’s the bottom line. We have shown we can do it. These guys have been out for a while now. We have played some pretty good hockey at times. "There is no reason why that didn’t happen tonight. We came out with that mindset in the first period and did a pretty good job, but you can’t lose all of the momentum because they scored a couple of goals. We are a veteran team, and it is inexcusable."

John Tavares makes feelings known about Joseph Woll being called back

Alternate Captain John Tavares took the blame on behalf of the Leafs' position players for putting a disappointing game in front of goalie Joseph Woll that resulted in him being pulled by head coach Craig Berube.

“As a group that’s the ultimate one on us,” Tavares said during his scrum. “When we leave our goalie out to dry and he’s giving you everything he’s got, keeping you in the game, and we’re just not executing well enough to turn the game around and obviously get us back in it, give him the break and obviously provide some run support.”

Defensive struggles have been massive for the Leafs, who continue to leak goals. They have conceded 32 goals in the eight games. Their road form has also been under the radar, with just one win in their past seven. Saturday's game was the first one in a six-game road stretch in thirteen days for Toronto.

Wayne Gretzky’s wife Janet responds to critics questioning his loyalty to Canada, Bobby Orr's support following 4 Nations drama

Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy