The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a thrilling 4-3 overtime win on the road against the Winnipeg Jets Saturday night-but it wasn’t all smiles on the way back to the locker room.
A clip surfaced after the game showing head coach Craig Berube animatedly voicing his frustration toward the officials as the team exited the ice. The Leafs may have secured the two points, but Berube clearly had unfinished business with the officiating crew.
While the video doesn’t give us a clear read on what was said, the message was unmistakable: Berube wasn’t happy. And when asked about it following the team’s morning skate on Monday, he didn’t shy away from explaining why.
“Just the whole situation,” Berube said, referencing a late high-sticking penalty on Matthew Knies. “Where the game was at, the score, all of that plays into that. I thought it was a late, late call at that time of game for sure, so I wasn’t happy at all with it.”
And you can understand why. With the game hanging in the balance, Knies was whistled for a high stick that Berube felt didn’t warrant a call-especially not at that point in the game. Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi was on the receiving end, and while there’s no rule against selling a call, it’s the kind of moment that tends to stick with a coach, especially when the stick didn’t appear to make clear contact with Vilardi’s face.
Even with the win secured in overtime, the frustration lingered. And it wasn’t just Berube showing some edge.
Scott Laughton was spotted mocking a Jets fan behind the bench after the Leafs’ game-winner, pantomiming a crying motion in response to the chirping from the stands. It was a heat-of-the-moment reaction in a game that had plenty of emotion on both sides.
The Leafs may have left Winnipeg with the win, but they didn’t escape unscathed. William Nylander could miss time, and that’s where Laughton’s name came up again-this time for hockey reasons. Berube was asked about his confidence in Laughton stepping into a bigger role if needed.
“He’s been in those situations before,” Berube said. “He’s played wing, played more of a top-six role. He’s played some real good hockey for us, so he has an opportunity to go up there, but I can move other guys in and out, so we’ll see him move around if that’s the case.”
Laughton brings versatility and experience, and Berube’s comments suggest he’s not afraid to shuffle things if Nylander is out. The Leafs have leaned on their depth throughout the season, and this could be another test of that depth as they head into a four-game homestand starting Monday night against the Minnesota Wild.
There’s never a dull moment in Toronto hockey. Between late-game drama, fiery coaches, and lineup adjustments, the Leafs are heading home with momentum-and a little bit of attitude.