Alright folks, listen up! You got Game 7 staring ya right in the face. The pressure? It’s off the charts, buzzing louder than a packed arena! And what’s the most important thing when everything’s on the line? It ain’t some fancy system or trick play; it’s that pre-game attitude, how these young fellas walk into that rink before the puck even drops. That’s why what Coach Berube said before the big one is pure gold, straight goods on getting the mindset right.
Now, this guy Berube, he’s been there before, won a Stanley Cup Game 7, so he knows a thing or two about what it takes. He ain’t about overcomplicating things. After a big win like Game 6, or even a tough loss, he says you gotta move on. Simple as that. That’s part of getting your head straight for the next one, especially when it’s winner-take-all.
His main message to the players ahead of this massive Game 7? Keep it simple. He told them, and I’m telling you, it comes down to “Relax. Get rested. Focus on what we focused on in Game 6, really, with the way we played the game.” That’s coach communication at its finest right there. No need for a mile-long speech. He knows the playoff pressure is huge, so mental preparation is key, and sometimes that means just taking a breath and remembering the basics.
He talked about the skating, being aggressive, managing the puck, and playing simply. That’s the bread and butter! It’s like he said, “We just got to work. Got to kind of ‘work’ before ‘skill,’ and then the skill can take over at some point.” That’s good old time hockey logic. You gotta have determination, you gotta have desperation, and urgency, sure, but it all starts with that pre-game attitude: focusing on the hard work first.
You look at Game 6, Panthers outshot them something like 37 to 23, but the Leafs got the job done with determination and structure. Berube wants that same fire, but channelled right. Don’t get rattled by the magnitude of it all. His message is clear: calm the nerves, trust the simple game, and let the effort lead the way. That right pre-game attitude is the foundation for handling the Game 7 mindset and letting your skill shine when everything’s on the line.
References:
Maple Leafs Coach Reveals Exact Message to Players Before Game 7
