Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube ensured his team got the message to not take the San Jose Sharks lightly on Thursday.
Toronto is fighting for first in the Atlantic Division and comes into tonight’s game tied with the Florida Panthers with 89 points.
“This team is not going to give up. They play with a lot of juice. They’re excited [about] this team, even know where they’re at in the standings,” Berube told reporters. “They got good young players coming. They got a new identity. They’re feeling good. They’re playing and going to play us hard tonight.”
Berube pointed out the San Jose Sharks’ power play as something to watch out for. In the last ten games, the Sharks have a 27.6% power-play.
“We got to focus on our game and do what we do best as a team. We got to just focus on that,” Berube said. “There are things we look at, what the Sharks do in certain situations, but it’s about us tonight. Putting our foot on the gas from the get-go, playing our game.”
Toronto is 5-5 in their last ten games, and the Sharks are coming off a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins last Saturday.
Berube praises Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith
Celebrini is arguably the leading candidate to win the NHL’s Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year. Smith has been one of the best rookies since January 20th, with seven goals and 14 assists.
“Celebrini is a real good player. [That] Smith kid [too]. They got some guys that can scoot and make plays. They’re talented players,” Berube said. “You can’t come in here and take anybody lightly, including this team.”
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