{"id":537,"date":"2025-11-24T19:32:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T19:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/givemesoccer.com\/?p=537"},"modified":"2025-11-24T19:32:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T19:32:38","slug":"last-place-maple-leafs-favour-rest-ahead-of-critical-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/givemesoccer.com\/?p=537","title":{"rendered":"Last-place Maple Leafs favour rest ahead of \u2018critical\u2019 road trip"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>TORONTO \u2014 That season Craig Berube guided his hockey team to a Stanley Cup, it too was a mess at this time of year.<\/p>\n<p>So much so, those 2018-19 St. Louis Blues fired bench boss Mike Yeo in the back half of November after stumbling to a 7-9-3 start and falling to last place in their division. They promoted assistant Berube to the head gig on an interim basis.<\/p>\n<p>The group didn\u2019t immediately rally; those eventual champions were tied for dead last in the league on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n<p>In order to write a wonderful comeback story, you need something to come back from.<\/p>\n<p>Flash forward seven Novembers, and Berube is back in familiar territory. He can only look up to see anyone else in the conference standings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSame approach almost, right now,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/teams\/toronto-maple-leafs\/\" class=\"sn-team-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-team=\"toronto-maple-leafs\" data-league=\"nhl\">Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> coach said Monday. \u201cSame approach.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"block_e76ed1e4a1ee58c9403ac33c454ed4c5\" class=\"br-video__cont\">\n<div class=\"br-video column\">\n<div id=\"video_container-211127\" class=\"sn-video-container \">\n<div class=\"bc_shortcode_placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <script class=\"bc-embed-script\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        var adServerUrl = \"\";\n        var $el = $( \"#video_container-211127\" );\n        var permalink = $el.closest('.snet-single-article').data('permalink');<\/script><\/p>\n<p>        $el.after( unescape(&#8220;%3Cscript src=&#8221;&#8221; + (document.location.protocol == &#8220;https:&#8221; ? &#8220;https:\/\/sb&#8221; : &#8220;http:\/\/b&#8221;) + &#8220;.scorecardresearch.com\/beacon.js&#8221; %3E%3C\/script%3E&#8221;) );<\/p>\n<p>        $( document ).one( &#8216;ready&#8217;, function() {<br \/>\n            $( &#8220;#video_container-211127&#8221; ).SNPlayer( {<br \/>\n                bc_account_id: &#8220;1704050871&#8221;,<br \/>\n                bc_player_id: &#8220;JCdte3tMv&#8221;,<br \/>\n                \/\/autoplay: true,<br \/>\n                \/\/is_has_autoplay_switch: false,<br \/>\n                bc_videos: 6385530638112,<br \/>\n                is_has_continuous_play: &#8220;false&#8221;,<br \/>\n                section: &#8220;&#8221;,<br \/>\n                thumbnail: &#8220;https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6385530638112-1024&#215;576.jpg&#8221;,<br \/>\n                direct_url: &#8220;https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/video\/why-rielly-and-maple-leafs-dont-spend-much-time-worrying-about-standings\/&#8221;<br \/>\n            });<br \/>\n        });\n    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"br-video-ssg\">\n<div id=\"video_container-389273\" class=\"sn-video-container \">\n<div class=\"bc_shortcode_placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <script class=\"bc-embed-script\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        var adServerUrl = \"\";\n        var $el = $( \"#video_container-389273\" );\n        var permalink = $el.closest('.snet-single-article').data('permalink');<\/p>\n<p>        $el.after( unescape(\"%3Cscript src=\"\" + (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https:\/\/sb\" : \"http:\/\/b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com\/beacon.js\" %3E%3C\/script%3E\") );<\/p>\n<p>        $( document ).one( 'ready', function() {\n            $( \"#video_container-389273\" ).SNPlayer( {\n                bc_account_id: \"1704050871\",\n                bc_player_id: \"JCdte3tMv\",\n                \/\/autoplay: false, \n                \/\/is_has_autoplay_switch: false,\n                bc_videos: 6385530638112, \n                is_has_continuous_play: \"false\",\n                section: \"\",\n                thumbnail: \"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6385530638112-1024x576.jpg\",\n                direct_url: \"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/video\/why-rielly-and-maple-leafs-dont-spend-much-time-worrying-about-standings\/\"\n            });\n        });\n    <\/script><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Judging by points (21), points percentage (.477) and goals against per game (3.37), Berube\u2019s bunch wakes up three days before U.S. Thanksgiving as the worst team in the NHL\u2019s Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsnet.ca%2Fnhl%2Farticle%2Ftreliving-endorses-berube-but-offers-few-solutions-for-vanilla-maple-leafs%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CMyles.Dichter%40rci.rogers.com%7C066fa677b19b4c7fc84f08de2b89e672%7C0ab4cbbf4bc74826b52ca14fed5286b9%7C0%7C0%7C638996068447220591%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=MEfDgoYUj9H9uG%2FkTrNAGuQaWnG7dPmPDsMJAqEHVqM%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Recent endorsement<\/a>\u00a0from the boss be damned, Berube said he wears the weight of earning just one win over the past eight tries the same way a player would.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI mean, we all feel it and want to be better and want to do better. But at the same time, my job is to help these guys, to teach them, to work with them. And everybody\u2019s got to grind right now. It\u2019s a grind. You got to grind.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo I sleep any differently? No. I wake up and look forward to coming to the rink and trying to get better, like everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It says something, though, about the physical fragility of these Leafs that \u2014 in wake of a\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsnet.ca%2Fnhl%2Farticle%2Fits-inexcusable-maple-leafs-losing-ways-fester-in-montreal%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CMyles.Dichter%40rci.rogers.com%7C066fa677b19b4c7fc84f08de2b89e672%7C0ab4cbbf4bc74826b52ca14fed5286b9%7C0%7C0%7C638996068447243712%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Gqh1to79Eqn6Z3v%2BJEVoH0GwrGoavmln6BLVs6eA%2F9Q%3D&amp;reserved=0\">lacklustre performance Saturday in Montreal<\/a>\u00a0and a day off Sunday \u2014 that Monday\u2019s developmental workout was light on grind.<\/p>\n<p>A healthy and busy leadership core \u2014 Morgan Rielly, William Nylander, John Tavares, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Joseph Woll \u2014 eschewed the skates Monday in favour of \u201cmental and physical rest,\u201d per Berube, who also stayed off the ice. The injured and role players scattered on separate pads to sharpen individual skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A full practice is scheduled for Tuesday before the Leafs embark on their longest road trip to date: Columbus, Washington, Pittsburgh, Florida and Carolina.<\/p>\n<div id=\"block_d589d2098f33888da4f3a911af4cde04\" class=\"br-video__cont\">\n<div class=\"br-video column\">\n<div id=\"video_container-936413\" class=\"sn-video-container \">\n<div class=\"bc_shortcode_placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <script class=\"bc-embed-script\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        var adServerUrl = \"\";\n        var $el = $( \"#video_container-936413\" );\n        var permalink = $el.closest('.snet-single-article').data('permalink');<\/script><\/p>\n<p>        $el.after( unescape(&#8220;%3Cscript src=&#8221;&#8221; + (document.location.protocol == &#8220;https:&#8221; ? &#8220;https:\/\/sb&#8221; : &#8220;http:\/\/b&#8221;) + &#8220;.scorecardresearch.com\/beacon.js&#8221; %3E%3C\/script%3E&#8221;) );<\/p>\n<p>        $( document ).one( &#8216;ready&#8217;, function() {<br \/>\n            $( &#8220;#video_container-936413&#8221; ).SNPlayer( {<br \/>\n                bc_account_id: &#8220;1704050871&#8221;,<br \/>\n                bc_player_id: &#8220;JCdte3tMv&#8221;,<br \/>\n                \/\/autoplay: true,<br \/>\n                \/\/is_has_autoplay_switch: false,<br \/>\n                bc_videos: 6385530834112,<br \/>\n                is_has_continuous_play: &#8220;false&#8221;,<br \/>\n                section: &#8220;&#8221;,<br \/>\n                thumbnail: &#8220;https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6385530834112-1024&#215;576.jpg&#8221;,<br \/>\n                direct_url: &#8220;https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/video\/craig-means-business-benoit-on-maple-leafs-respect-for-coach-berube\/&#8221;<br \/>\n            });<br \/>\n        });\n    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"br-video-ssg\">\n<div id=\"video_container-392817\" class=\"sn-video-container \">\n<div class=\"bc_shortcode_placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <script class=\"bc-embed-script\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        var adServerUrl = \"\";\n        var $el = $( \"#video_container-392817\" );\n        var permalink = $el.closest('.snet-single-article').data('permalink');<\/p>\n<p>        $el.after( unescape(\"%3Cscript src=\"\" + (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https:\/\/sb\" : \"http:\/\/b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com\/beacon.js\" %3E%3C\/script%3E\") );<\/p>\n<p>        $( document ).one( 'ready', function() {\n            $( \"#video_container-392817\" ).SNPlayer( {\n                bc_account_id: \"1704050871\",\n                bc_player_id: \"JCdte3tMv\",\n                \/\/autoplay: false, \n                \/\/is_has_autoplay_switch: false,\n                bc_videos: 6385530834112, \n                is_has_continuous_play: \"false\",\n                section: \"\",\n                thumbnail: \"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6385530834112-1024x576.jpg\",\n                direct_url: \"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/video\/craig-means-business-benoit-on-maple-leafs-respect-for-coach-berube\/\"\n            });\n        });\n    <\/script><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Banged up mentally and physically, the Leafs will board a charter to take on a handful of hungry conference rivals in what Berube positioned as a \u201ccritical\u201d road trip.<\/p>\n<p>Toronto is a league-worst 1-6 away from home, and it is banking on the return of healthy skaters to prevent that record from worsening.<\/p>\n<p>First, the good news: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/jake-mccabe\/41f16295-352c-4b37-ae82-330cfc1fc970\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"41f16295-352c-4b37-ae82-330cfc1fc970\">Jake McCabe<\/a>, who left Saturday\u2019s loss with a puck to the face, is good to play Wednesday in Columbus, the coach assures. (McCabe did not skate Monday.)<\/p>\n<p>Captain Auston Matthews (lower body), top-line left wing Matthews Knies (lower body) and centre Nicolas Roy (upper body) are all \u201cclose\u201d and have not been ruled out for Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the concerning news: neither Brandon Carlo nor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/anthony-stolarz\/c7049cf3-86d8-4bd0-9323-1a5d027da2ab\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"c7049cf3-86d8-4bd0-9323-1a5d027da2ab\">Anthony Stolarz<\/a> (both upper body) have skated since their respective injuries. Stolarz hasn\u2019t been seen by reporters in days now. Berube said Thursday that he was hopeful Stolarz has not suffered a setback and would likely resume skating Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Didn\u2019t happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, Berube said his goalie is \u201ca ways away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Curious.<\/p>\n<p>If Berube has any hope of resummoning the magic of 2019, health is imperative.<\/p>\n<div id=\"block_c8247f8b902dc7658a7362d4a5aa71bc\" class=\"br-video__cont\">\n<div class=\"br-video column\">\n<div id=\"video_container-509594\" class=\"sn-video-container \">\n<div class=\"bc_shortcode_placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <script class=\"bc-embed-script\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        var adServerUrl = \"\";\n        var $el = $( \"#video_container-509594\" );\n        var permalink = $el.closest('.snet-single-article').data('permalink');<\/script><\/p>\n<p>        $el.after( unescape(&#8220;%3Cscript src=&#8221;&#8221; + (document.location.protocol == &#8220;https:&#8221; ? &#8220;https:\/\/sb&#8221; : &#8220;http:\/\/b&#8221;) + &#8220;.scorecardresearch.com\/beacon.js&#8221; %3E%3C\/script%3E&#8221;) );<\/p>\n<p>        $( document ).one( &#8216;ready&#8217;, function() {<br \/>\n            $( &#8220;#video_container-509594&#8221; ).SNPlayer( {<br \/>\n                bc_account_id: &#8220;1704050871&#8221;,<br \/>\n                bc_player_id: &#8220;JCdte3tMv&#8221;,<br \/>\n                \/\/autoplay: true,<br \/>\n                \/\/is_has_autoplay_switch: false,<br \/>\n                bc_videos: 6385532292112,<br \/>\n                is_has_continuous_play: &#8220;false&#8221;,<br \/>\n                section: &#8220;&#8221;,<br \/>\n                thumbnail: &#8220;https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6385532292112-1024&#215;576.jpg&#8221;,<br \/>\n                direct_url: &#8220;https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/video\/berube-provides-updates-on-matthews-knies-roy-and-other-injured-leafs\/&#8221;<br \/>\n            });<br \/>\n        });\n    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"br-video-ssg\">\n<div id=\"video_container-506646\" class=\"sn-video-container \">\n<div class=\"bc_shortcode_placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <script class=\"bc-embed-script\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        var adServerUrl = \"\";\n        var $el = $( \"#video_container-506646\" );\n        var permalink = $el.closest('.snet-single-article').data('permalink');<\/p>\n<p>        $el.after( unescape(\"%3Cscript src=\"\" + (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https:\/\/sb\" : \"http:\/\/b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com\/beacon.js\" %3E%3C\/script%3E\") );<\/p>\n<p>        $( document ).one( 'ready', function() {\n            $( \"#video_container-506646\" ).SNPlayer( {\n                bc_account_id: \"1704050871\",\n                bc_player_id: \"JCdte3tMv\",\n                \/\/autoplay: false, \n                \/\/is_has_autoplay_switch: false,\n                bc_videos: 6385532292112, \n                is_has_continuous_play: \"false\",\n                section: \"\",\n                thumbnail: \"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6385532292112-1024x576.jpg\",\n                direct_url: \"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/video\/berube-provides-updates-on-matthews-knies-roy-and-other-injured-leafs\/\"\n            });\n        });\n    <\/script><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>So is team defence, which has shot to the top of the coach\u2019s list.<\/p>\n<p>Berube has no interest in overhauling his system, but he said he\u2019s seen improvement from a couple mid-season adjustments he\u2019s made to the game plan.<\/p>\n<p>Execution without the puck remains an issue, be it limiting counterattacks, making quick exits, or tightening around the crease.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s something we\u2019ve been banging away at for a bit here, and we got to keep banging away at it. We prided ourselves on defence last year. Checking. And we got to get back to that,\u201d Berube said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/hockey\/nhl\/players\/simon-benoit\/87101f07-336e-4c22-aa1f-85d53d016736\" class=\"sn-player-post-link\" target=\"_self\" data-player=\"87101f07-336e-4c22-aa1f-85d53d016736\">Simon Benoit<\/a>, of all Maple Leafs, offered the most impassioned and accountable words on the first day back to work since getting passed by the hapless Buffalo Sabres in the standings on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust not good enough. That\u2019s it. There\u2019s no explanation. Just not good enough,\u201d Benoit said of the 5-2 egg Toronto laid in Montreal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have to be more hungry \u2014\u00a0myself. Just start. We have to be more hungry. We need to show that we want to win out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"block_aa9b5f7e5561125bf1f523cb18d408f3\" class=\"br-video__cont\">\n<div class=\"br-video column\">\n<div id=\"video_container-895867\" class=\"sn-video-container \">\n<div class=\"bc_shortcode_placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <script class=\"bc-embed-script\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        var adServerUrl = \"\";\n        var $el = $( \"#video_container-895867\" );\n        var permalink = $el.closest('.snet-single-article').data('permalink');<\/script><\/p>\n<p>        $el.after( unescape(&#8220;%3Cscript src=&#8221;&#8221; + (document.location.protocol == &#8220;https:&#8221; ? &#8220;https:\/\/sb&#8221; : &#8220;http:\/\/b&#8221;) + &#8220;.scorecardresearch.com\/beacon.js&#8221; %3E%3C\/script%3E&#8221;) );<\/p>\n<p>        $( document ).one( &#8216;ready&#8217;, function() {<br \/>\n            $( &#8220;#video_container-895867&#8221; ).SNPlayer( {<br \/>\n                bc_account_id: &#8220;1704050871&#8221;,<br \/>\n                bc_player_id: &#8220;JCdte3tMv&#8221;,<br \/>\n                \/\/autoplay: true,<br \/>\n                \/\/is_has_autoplay_switch: false,<br \/>\n                bc_videos: 6385475310112,<br \/>\n                is_has_continuous_play: &#8220;false&#8221;,<br \/>\n                section: &#8220;&#8221;,<br \/>\n                thumbnail: &#8220;https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6385475310112-1024&#215;576.jpg&#8221;,<br \/>\n                direct_url: &#8220;https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/video\/nhl-highlights-canadiens-5-maple-leafs-2-2\/&#8221;<br \/>\n            });<br \/>\n        });\n    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"br-video-ssg\">\n<div id=\"video_container-738378\" class=\"sn-video-container \">\n<div class=\"bc_shortcode_placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>    <script class=\"bc-embed-script\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        var adServerUrl = \"\";\n        var $el = $( \"#video_container-738378\" );\n        var permalink = $el.closest('.snet-single-article').data('permalink');<\/p>\n<p>        $el.after( unescape(\"%3Cscript src=\"\" + (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https:\/\/sb\" : \"http:\/\/b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com\/beacon.js\" %3E%3C\/script%3E\") );<\/p>\n<p>        $( document ).one( 'ready', function() {\n            $( \"#video_container-738378\" ).SNPlayer( {\n                bc_account_id: \"1704050871\",\n                bc_player_id: \"JCdte3tMv\",\n                \/\/autoplay: false, \n                \/\/is_has_autoplay_switch: false,\n                bc_videos: 6385475310112, \n                is_has_continuous_play: \"false\",\n                section: \"\",\n                thumbnail: \"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/6385475310112-1024x576.jpg\",\n                direct_url: \"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/video\/nhl-highlights-canadiens-5-maple-leafs-2-2\/\"\n            });\n        });\n    <\/script><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Benoit was asked to assess the mood of the group. He didn\u2019t quite know. They hadn\u2019t been together. He\u2019d been working on his own game, which he says has been too passive.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe guys are trying, but it just takes more. It\u2019s a hard league to win,\u201d Benoit said. \u201cEverybody has to show up every night, and all together. It\u2019s a team sport. Just not one guy can make it. It has to be everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The hallmarks of that squad from seven Novembers ago that Berube helped elevate from the basement \u2014 impenetrable defence, all hands on deck, elite goaltending, dogged forecheck, relentless work ethic, sum greater than the individual parts?<\/p>\n<p>Those traits have yet to materialize here in Toronto.<\/p>\n<p>There is still time for them to develop, an optimist would counter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know we can be much, much, much better,\u201d Benoit said. \u201cAnd he\u2019s pushing us to achieve that goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd we all like the guy, respect him a lot. He wants us to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Maybe rest is a weapon.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe Berube\u2019s history of 2019 can repeat itself.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe sports are crazy and the miracle we can\u2019t see coming lies just around the corner.<\/p>\n<div id=\"block_3ce7e5401572422e54f6acef9c19506a\" class=\"br-related-links__cont\">\n<div class=\"br-related-links br-body\">\n<div class=\"br-related-links-heading\">More from Sportsnet<\/div>\n<div class=\"br-related-links-wrapper\">\n            <a data-an-category=\"Clicks - default\" data-an-action=\"default-related-links-pos-1\" data-an-opt-label=\"Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe expected to play vs. Blue Jackets\" class=\"br-related-links-container first featured-link related-links-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/article\/maple-leafs-jake-mccabe-expected-to-play-vs-blue-jackets\/\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-links-container-inner\">\n<div class=\"br-related-links-thumbnail first\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/mccabe-640x360.jpg\" class=\"attachment-sn-article-featured-img size-sn-article-featured-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"br-related-links-title first\">\n                        Maple Leafs\u2019 Jake McCabe expected to play vs. Blue Jackets                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><br \/>\n            <a data-an-category=\"Clicks - default\" data-an-action=\"default-related-links-pos-2\" data-an-opt-label=\"'It\u2019s inexcusable': Maple Leafs' losing ways fester in Montreal\" class=\"br-related-links-container second featured-link related-links-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/nhl\/article\/its-inexcusable-maple-leafs-losing-ways-fester-in-montreal\/\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-links-container-inner\">\n<div class=\"br-related-links-thumbnail second\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sportsnet.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Leafs-Habs-640x360.jpg\" class=\"attachment-sn-article-featured-img size-sn-article-featured-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" title=\"\">                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"br-related-links-title second\">\n                        \u2018It\u2019s inexcusable\u2019: Maple Leafs\u2019 losing ways fester in Montreal                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>Craig Berube has been here before \u2014 sitting in last place in November. And so seven years later, the Leafs coach is preaching calm ahead of a pivotal stretch for his team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"registered_only","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-napoli-eye-tolu-arokodare-as-striker-hunt-intensifies"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Last-place Maple Leafs favour rest ahead of \u2018critical\u2019 road trip - GiveMeSoccer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/givemesoccer.com\/?p=537\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Last-place Maple Leafs favour rest ahead of \u2018critical\u2019 road trip - GiveMeSoccer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Craig Berube has been here before \u2014 sitting in last place in November. 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