Berube criticizes Leafs' leaders after loss to Oilers

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube demanded more from the team's leadership group in the wake of Saturday's 6-3 home defeat to the Edmonton Oilers.

"Our leaders have to take control of it a lot more than they are right now," Berube told reporters, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan. "It's all a mindset. Whether down a goal, you have to have more urgency and being more direct in how we want to play."

The contest was a tight affair heading into the final frame after Darnell Nurse's goal at the 19:29 mark of the second period gave the Oilers a 3-2 advantage heading into the intermission. Edmonton then took over in the third period, with two goals from Vasily Podkolzin and a tally from former Maple Leaf winger Zach Hyman putting the visiting team out of sight.

If Toronto's leadership group was quiet on the night, Edmonton's core was anything but. Connor McDavid finished the game with two goals and an assist. Leon Draisaitl chipped in with three helpers for the Oilers.

Berube did provide an excuse for William Nylander, who was "not even close to 75%" for the contest due to illness.

Berube said much of the Leafs' poor display can be chalked up to a lack of urgency in the third period.

"Third periods, it's been two games in a row at home, where we're flat," Berube added. "That's the bottom line for me. Whatever it is, we should've been coming out and dictating how we're going to play that period and how we wanted to play it."