![\"Craig](\"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/USATSI_26180603.jpg\")
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are going through it right now, there\u2019s no other way to put it. They\u2019re scoring goals, but they\u2019re coming up short in almost every other area of the game which is making the goal-scoring a moot point. They aren\u2019t getting number one performances from their number one goaltender, and they can\u2019t execute a clean breakout pass, resulting in being hemmed in their own zone on every other shift.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been an issue for the past half-decade, and it hasn\u2019t gone anywhere in 2025-26. By it, I\u2019m referring to the ability to play a full 60 minutes. The Leafs were up 2-0 on the Los Angeles Kings heading into the second period, and twice before the game was over they blew a lead, first at 2-0 and then at 3-2. The Kings ended up winning the game in overtime, and Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube pointed to his team\u2019s inability to play a full 60 minutes as the primary reason for the loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cI liked our first period, I thought we did some real good things,\u201d Berube told media postgame. \u201cDefended well, you know, our sticks were really good, we did a lot of good things. And then I thought they three-quarter iced us in the second. The reason that is, you know, when you get pucks back in our zone, we got to get out of it. We didn\u2019t do a good job of it. And then we got the lead in the third and I thought we sat back a little too much.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the recurring words in Berube\u2019s recent press conferences has been confidence. The team appears to be playing like they\u2019re unsure of the next play to make, waiting for the play to come to them instead of executing one themselves. That was no different after their fourth loss in a row.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s confidence for me, a little bit,\u201d Berube said. \u201cThe plays are there. We\u2019re just not making them and just not seeing them enough right now. We just got to pick up our pace. We got to be more confident in those plays. To me, that\u2019s the difference in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked how the team can rediscover their confidence, Berube said that it ultimately comes down to hard work and trusting the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think confidence comes from hard work and doing the right things. We\u2019ll look at video and they\u2019ll see the plays and work on it in practice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Maple Leafs are back in action on Saturday night when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to be better, plain and simple. There\u2019s no excuse for where we are right now. We need to hold ourselves accountable and make the necessary changes, because this isn\u2019t acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n