Craig Berube coached the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup championship in 2019, but on Thursday night he aims to guide the host Toronto Maple Leafs to a win over his former team.
Berube was fired by St. Louis on Dec. 12, 2023, and became Toronto’s coach this past May. He suggested no hard feelings toward the Blues and is looking forward to facing his old squad for the first time.
“It’ll be great,” Berube told NHL.com. “I had some great years there. I got very close with a lot of players and management and the people of St. Louis, and always will be.
“As for the players, I coached Brayden Schenn since he was a kid in Philly. Robert Thomas, Jordan Binnington, I coached them for a long time. So, I care a lot about those guys, I care a lot about the organization and about the Blues. But I’ve moved on now. I’m with the Leafs now.”
The Maple Leafs will have added incentive after playing their worst game of the season in a 6-2 road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
“They brought their best, and we brought our worst,” Toronto right winger Mitchell Marner said.
St. Louis also lost on Tuesday, a 3-2 setback to the visiting Winnipeg Jets.
“I didn’t think we had any passengers tonight,” Blues coach Drew Bannister said. “I thought the effort was there, from start to finish. Our guys battled, they worked hard. I felt like all 12 forwards, all 11 forwards at that time were going. Next man up mentality.”
Thomas suffered a fractured ankle after blocking a shot in the third period on Tuesday. He was put on injured reserve Wednesday and will be re-evaluated in six weeks. Thomas has one goal and five assists this season, including two assists on Tuesday.
“I think just next man up mentality,” said Brandon Saad, who scored two goals Tuesday. “Obviously, you can’t replace (Thomas). He’s unbelievable, but at the same time, you got to keep playing. You got to battle back. Regardless of the situation, we’vd got to be focused on winning hockey games.”
Thursday’s game will be significant for St. Louis, as well. Schenn, the Blues’ captain, appreciates Berube’s influence.
“Oh yeah, definitely, it makes you keep tabs on Toronto a little bit more,” Schenn said. “(Berube) has been so good to me over my career and gave me such a great opportunity to play in this league for a long time. I definitely owe him a lot.
“I’m not going to say I’m going to root for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but you’re definitely rooting for the ‘Chief’ to do well. He’s a good man. Guys definitely loved him around this locker room for many years.”
In the Maple Leafs’ loss to Columbus, goaltender Dennis Hildeby made his second career start. Anthony Stolarz had played the night before in a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning that completed a 3-1 homestand.
Joseph Woll (groin) had been a possible choice to make his first start of the season in goal for Toronto on Tuesday, but it was decided that he needed a little more time.
Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty (lower-body injury) left during the third period on Tuesday and was to be evaluated Wednesday. He has two goals in the five games this season.
Pacioretty was a healthy scratch for two consecutive games before playing Monday, when he scored a goal.
–Field Level Media
