Craig Berube knows exactly what his team is up against, and he’s not sugarcoating it.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the second round of the playoffs, Berube is keeping things grounded.
Craig Berube Knows Battling the Defending Champs Won’t Be Easy
Despite finishing ahead of Florida in the standings, Berube insisted the Panthers should be considered the favorite.
“Anytime you’re playing the Stanley Cup champions, you’re going to be the underdog. They’ve proven they’re a great team over the last few years,” he said.
“We’re a good team, too. We’re approaching this business-like, we’ve got to go out and do our job and play the way we can.”
Game 1 is set for Monday, May 5, and Berube says the group’s mindset is sharp. He praised the energy in practice and stressed one main message: celebrate the progress, but stay locked in.
Berube made it clear the Panthers are no fluke. Under head coach Paul Maurice, Florida plays a fast, physical, high-pressure brand of hockey that’s tough to match.
“In Winnipeg, we played him in a series with me as the coach. His teams are very aggressive and physical. They play that game,” Berube recalled.
“They are coming at you all the time. There is no sitting back with them. They go one way. They are coming at you, and there is not going to be a lot of room out there. Those are the way his teams have always played recently.”
Matchup management will be critical, especially on the road. But Berube cautioned against overthinking it, noting that players respond best when the game has rhythm and flow. He’s confident that Toronto’s home-and-away consistency this season will help them stay even-keeled.
And then there’s Matthew Tkachuk, a key piece of Florida’s offense. Berube had plenty of respect for him.
“Very intelligent player. Very good around the net. He has made his living there. He can pass, he can score, and he can do a lot of things.”
Craig Berube Sets the Tone as Leafs Gear Up for Panthers Matchup
The Leafs will lean on their depth and physicality in this series. Berube pointed to the Scott Laughton-led checking line as a standout from Round 1, calling them “very effective.” That kind of two-way effort will be crucial against Florida’s deep forward group, which includes stars like Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart.
Berube also emphasized the importance of mindset. He doesn’t believe in easing up after a series win.
“You have to keep playing, stay on your toes, keep pressuring, and do things the right way. A bad bounce here or there changes everything,” he said. “You want to be aggressive and keep pushing, for sure.”
Composure is just as important. Whether it’s staying disciplined under pressure or not reacting to Florida’s physical play, Berube wants his team to stay poised, even joking about William Nylander’s famously calm demeanor.
Game plans will get tested. Tempers may flare. But Berube’s message is simple: play your game, stay focused, and don’t let the moment get too big.