The second-round series of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers ended with a decisive 6-1 victory for the Panthers in Game 7. Neither star Auston Matthews nor coach Craig Berube could overcome the pressure to avoid the Maple Leafs’ seventh consecutive loss in a Game 7.
The series was particularly painful for the Maple Leafs, who held a 2-0 lead early on but lost four of the final five games in the saga. Matthews faced boos for his limited impact, scoring only one goal in seven games, and in Toronto, discussions about the pressure effect are growing.
Berube highlighted the collective consequences of facing crucial moments in the season. The Maple Leafs faced a win-or-go-home game at home, but the team was never close to leveling the score or taking the series from Florida, prompting a period of self-reflection.
Berube’s message to Matthews and rest of Maple Leafs
“There is pressure everywhere. I don’t care where you are playing. If you are playing in that Game 7, and you are in Columbus, there is pressure to win. The only pressure that we should feel is right inside the locker room from each other. That is my honest opinion,” Berube said, according to MapleLeafsHotStove.com.
“Pressure is pressure. I understand it. I do. It is a hard market. It is a great market, though. You have to look at it that way, in my opinion. Pressure comes from inside the locker room. That’s it. Your teammates are the most important people. That, to me, is the only pressure,” he added.
Berube’s admission about coaching Matthews
“It is great coaching a guy with that much ability, but the person is even more important to me. Great character. Great personality. I really enjoyed being around him. I thought his leadership got better and better as the year went along. I thought he and I worked well together from that standpoint. Toward the end of the season, he really took over in that role,” Berube said.