Maple Leafs HC Berube Rips Team's Effort in 5-1 Loss to Blues

Toronto coach calls out lack of compete after disappointing defeat against St. Louis.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:41pm

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Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube did not hold back in his assessment of his team's performance following a 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Berube said the Leafs had only one player show up - their goaltender Joseph Woll, who made 33 saves to prevent further embarrassment. The coach was highly critical of his team's overall effort and compete level, which he said was a major disappointment after the Leafs had shown improvement in recent games.

Why it matters

The loss is another blow in what has been a challenging season for the Maple Leafs, who now sit seventh in the Atlantic Division with a 31-30-13 record. Toronto's defensive struggles have been a persistent issue, allowing 3.46 goals per game, one of the highest rates in the NHL. Berube's scathing comments put the team's effort and focus under the microscope as they try to turn things around with just over a month left in the regular season.

The details

The Maple Leafs were thoroughly outplayed by the Blues, who dictated the pace of play and created chances by forcing turnovers. Toronto struggled to win puck battles and generate offense, with their only goal coming from Jake McCabe. Berube said the team's compete level was unacceptable and that he thought the Leafs had been building momentum in recent games, only to see it crumble in this defeat.

  • The Maple Leafs lost 5-1 to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, March 29, 2026.

The players

Craig Berube

Head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs who heavily criticized his team's effort and compete level following the loss to the Blues.

Joseph Woll

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender who made 33 saves to prevent further scoring in the 5-1 loss, the only player Berube said showed up to play.

Jake McCabe

Toronto Maple Leafs player who scored the team's lone goal in the 5-1 loss to the Blues.

Dylan Holloway

St. Louis Blues player who scored a goal and had an assist in the 5-1 win over the Maple Leafs.

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What they’re saying

“We had one player show up tonight, and that was our goalie. That's really what it boils down to.”

— Craig Berube, Head Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs

“It's very disappointing. I mean, I thought the last couple of games we were pretty good, and we were building. I talk about staying together and playing competitive, and we did not have that out there tonight.”

— Craig Berube, Head Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs

What’s next

The Maple Leafs will look to bounce back when they face the Anaheim Ducks on March 30, 2026.

The takeaway

Berube's scathing criticism of his team's effort and compete level highlights the Maple Leafs' ongoing struggles this season, as they try to turn things around with just over a month left in the regular season. The coach's comments put the spotlight squarely on the players and their focus as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive.