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Maple Leafs Face Blues as Craig Berube Returns to St. Louis
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube will make a highly anticipated return to St. Louis this Saturday, his first time back since the Blues dismissed him last season. Berube, who led the Blues to their first Stanley Cup in 2019, can expect a warm reception from Blues fans, but his primary focus will be on ensuring his Maple Leafs leave with a better outcome than their last meeting with St. Louis — a disappointing 5-1 loss on Oct. 24.
Since that defeat, the Maple Leafs have gone 2-0-1 and seem to be finding their rhythm. On Thursday, they powered past the Seattle Kraken in a 4-1 win, with William Nylander scoring twice and goaltender Joseph Woll, a St. Louis native, putting up a strong performance with 24 saves.
“I thought we grinded through — maybe not our cleanest game that way — but grinded through and found a way to win, and Woll played amazing,” Nylander said after the game.
Maple Leafs Showing Defensive Discipline
Woll gave credit to his teammates for their defensive commitment, praising the squad’s ability to limit Seattle’s high-quality chances and make critical blocks.
Captain John Tavares also continues to show his prowess on the ice, extending his point streak to six games with two assists against Seattle. Tavares has been finding his stride again after a brief illness early in the season that left him slightly weakened.
“I thought before he got sick, he was fine, but the sickness affected him,” Berube noted. “But he’s been heavy on pucks, strong on the puck, heavy stick, doing the little things right, faceoffs, all good stuff.”
Blues Aim to Rebound After Three Consecutive Losses
For the St. Louis Blues, the stakes are equally high, as they look to snap a three-game losing streak. Following a decisive win in Toronto, the Blues suffered a 5-2 loss to Montreal and then an 8-1 blowout in Ottawa. They managed a more competitive effort in their recent 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, a game in which head coach Drew Bannister commended his team’s elevated intensity and puck battle wins.
“Our compete level was a lot higher,” Bannister told reporters. “We put a lot of pucks to the net, and credit to them, they were able to block a lot and we missed some pretty good opportunities.”
Injury Woes and Power Play Struggles for St. Louis
The Blues have been grappling with injuries, most notably to their No. 1 center Robert Thomas, who is sidelined for about six weeks due to a broken ankle. Additionally, defenseman Nick Leddy and forward Mathieu Joseph are out with lower-body injuries, adding to the team’s challenges on the ice.
Currently, St. Louis sits 23rd in the league in power play efficiency, converting just 15.4 percent of their opportunities. They went 0-for-2 on the power play against Philadelphia, and the absence of Thomas is felt keenly by a team struggling to generate scoring opportunities.
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Blues winger Jordan Kyrou, who scored twice in the season opener, has since gone cold. Reflecting on the team’s power play, Kyrou acknowledged the team’s struggles.
“I think we’re definitely fighting it a little bit right now,” Kyrou said. “We’ve just got to stay with it, keep going, and we’ve got to grind.”
Key Points Heading into Saturday’s Game
Saturday’s game provides both teams with an opportunity to make statements — for Toronto, it’s a chance to solidify their improved play under Berube, and for the Blues, it’s about reclaiming consistency and confidence. With the Maple Leafs finding their footing and the Blues looking to overcome a rocky patch, this Central Division matchup promises intensity and grit from start to finish.
