Maple Leafs Coach Berube Vents Frustration After Sixth Straight Loss

Toronto's skid has pushed the team further away from a playoff spot.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube did not hide his frustration after the team's 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday night, their sixth straight defeat. Berube pointed to the third period as the turning point, criticizing his team's lack of intensity and defensive mistakes that allowed the Rangers to take control of the game.

Why it matters

The Maple Leafs' prolonged losing streak has put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, and Berube's public venting of his frustration underscores the pressure the team is facing to turn things around.

The details

The Maple Leafs' skid began with a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and has included defeats against the Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, and New Jersey Devils. Berube said the team played well for the first two periods against the Rangers but failed to respond early in the third period, leading to several odd-man rushes that resulted in goals for the opposition.

  • The Maple Leafs' six-game losing streak began on March 1st.
  • The team's latest loss came on March 5th against the New York Rangers.

The players

Craig Berube

The head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who expressed his frustration with the team's recent performances.

Alexis Lafreniere

A player for the New York Rangers who scored the go-ahead goal against the Maple Leafs in the third period.

Jaroslav Chmelar

A player for the New York Rangers who scored his first NHL goal against the Maple Leafs.

Igor Shesterkin

The goaltender for the New York Rangers who made 29 saves in the game against the Maple Leafs.

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What they’re saying

“First shift of the third period - just didn't come out with the intensity and directness that we needed and shot ourselves in the foot. It's been a few times that this happened. So, thought for 40 [minutes] we were good. Second period was really good, but we weren't ready to roll in the third to play the right way and win the game.”

— Craig Berube, Head Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs

“Whether it is [catching up to players] or not, I mean, these - we're pros. We all have to do our job, and you got to just stick with the plan, and we don't, and this is what happens.”

— Craig Berube, Head Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs

“So, give up odd-man rushes in the third. We never gave up one the whole game, and then we give up I don't know two or three that period, and it's in our net a couple times, and then in the third period it's just a commitment to doing things hard and blocking shots and things like that, and we didn't do it, and they scored.”

— Craig Berube, Head Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs

“Definitely frustrated, pissed off. The games are right there, but we don't push hard enough as a team to win them.”

— Craig Berube, Head Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs

What’s next

The Maple Leafs will look to end their losing streak when they face the Boston Bruins on March 8th.

The takeaway

Berube's public venting of his frustration underscores the urgency for the Maple Leafs to turn things around and regain their footing in the playoff race. The team's inability to maintain intensity and focus for a full 60 minutes has been a recurring issue, and they will need to address these lapses if they hope to salvage their season.