TORONTO — Sweet reunion, sweeter revenge?
Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube could be seen smiling and catching up with several former players and staff members of the St. Louis Blues Thursday morning in the bowels of Scotiabank Arena.
Sure, the organization fired Berube last December, in the middle of a second straight playoff-missed campaign. But the man who guided St. Louis to the city’s only Stanley Cup will forever be bonded by 2019.
“Just got a lot of memories there, for sure. Been there a long time, worked with a lot of people for a long time, and I have a lot of real good feelings for these people and all that,” Berube reflected, before flipping his attention to the now. To Toronto.
“But in the end, it’s like, we need two points. I can’t stress that enough. It’s just about us.”
As one might suspect, Berube — who strikes an imposing presence and has literally struck down many a foe — isn’t much for public sentimentality on a game-day morning.
Heck, the guy isn’t quite sure where that 14-karat Cup ring ended up.
“I don’t know exactly. It’s not on display,” he says. “My wife’s probably got it. Maybe she sold it. I don’t know. I haven’t seen it in a long time.”
For the Blues, the Berube era doesn’t feel all so long ago. His influence will be running through both the home and visitors’ rooms for this one.
“What I like about him: Guys know where they stand. It’s black and white with him. And best part about him, he’ll give you crap one day, the next day he’s asking how your day is going. So, he’s the type of coach that respects his players and obviously demands respect back from his players as well,” says Blues captain Brayden Schenn, who still texts with his former coach. “We had a couple battles along the way, but the best part about him was, it was always perfect the next day.”
Schenn believes there is mutual love between Berube and St. Louis and expects those emotions to bubble up stronger on Nov. 2, when the Leafs travel to Enterprise Center.
No one is surprised to hear Berube downplaying tonight’s reunion.
But deep down, c’mon: Who wouldn’t want a slice of revenge against the team that fired you?
“I’m sure it’s a huge game for him, too, right?” says Blues star Jordan Kyrou. “I mean, first time winning the Cup. So, it’s gonna be awesome. It’s gonna be a fun game. I’m sure he’s super pumped too.”
Oliver Ekman-Larsson agrees. There’s a poker face being applied here.
“I’m sure it means a lot,” the Maple Leafs defenceman says. “Obviously, he’s not gonna say anything about it. But we want to get back to track here and play the way we can and build on our game and get a win for him.”
If the Berube Bowl wasn’t enough incentive, the Maple Leafs need a response after Tuesday’s no-show in Columbus, where they got waxed 6-2.
Surely, nothing would please Berube more than a hard-checking, engaged effort — preferably from his current players, not his former ones.
“There’s emotions,” Berube concedes. “But once the puck drops, it’s over. We’re just playing. We need a good response here tonight with our team. That’s what I’m focused on.”
Woll makes long-awaited debut
The man intended to start Game 1 will finally make his season debut in Game 8.
Joseph Woll, the Maple Leafs, and the club’s medical staff all have been careful not to rush the goaltender into action since he suffered his pre-season groin strain. But all parties are projecting confidence as Woll gets the tap against his hometown Blues.
“He’s been obviously progressing in the right direction for some time now, and we kind of had this date picked out, that he would get this start,” Berube said.
“Listen, injuries happen. You can’t control (them). It’s disappointing. He was disappointed, for sure. He had a good camp and was ready to go, and disappointing on his part and ours. But that’s part of the game, and you got to deal with it. And he’s dealt with it in the right way.”
With partner Anthony Stolarz holding down the fort in spectacular fashion during Woll’s absence, Toronto now has two capable (if unproven) NHLers ready to share the crease during a compact schedule. (Knock wood.)
What strikes teammate Ekman-Larsson most about Woll is the goalie’s competitive nature.
“He works really hard and just battles for every puck,” Ekman-Larsson says. “He never gives up out there.”
Ekman-Larsson fine with fine
Ekman-Larsson is brushing off the supplementary discipline — a maximum $5,000 fine — he received for his interference on Tampa Bay Lightning star Jake Guentzel Monday.
“I just tried to play as hard as I can. It’s not me making those decisions, so just eat it and move on,” said the defenceman, who laid an aggressive neutral-zone reverse hit without touching the puck.
“It happens so quick out there, and I felt like the puck was kind of there, and I was trying to just find me an extra second. I know I had that in my game and toolbox, so I just try to bring that night. But I kind of got away from that a little bit in Columbus (Tuesday). So, I have to bring it again.”
One-Timers: Team Canada candidate Jordan Binnington starts in net for St. Louis…. With Max Pacioretty sidelined day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the Maple Leafs aren’t carrying an extra healthy forward…. Dennis Hildeby has been loaned back to the AHL Marlies…. Calle Järnkrok is still rehabbing a suspected sports hernia and has not skated since being placed on LTIR…. Pencil in Anthony Stolarz for Saturday’s start in Boston.
Maple Leafs projected lineup Thursday vs. St. Louis Blues:
Knies – Matthews – Marner
McMann – Domi – Nylander
Holmberg – Tavares – Robertson
Lorentz – Kämpf – Reaves
Rielly – Tanev
Ekman-Larsson – McCabe
Benoit – Timmins
Woll starts
Stolarz