Craig Berube on the Leafs' performance in their season-opening win over Montreal: "Our puck play was the root of our problems, but we did a good enough job to win the game"

"There was a lot of good, and there was stuff we have to work on, obviously. We did a good enough job to win the game. I thought our third period was our best period. We did a good job protecting the lead and closing it out. The goalie was good. We had some players who were really good tonight. Overall, our puck play wasn't great. That was the root of our problems, in general."

"Sometimes, it's the first game of the year... It wasn't all bad. I think it is decision-making more than anything, and understanding the speed of the game. You practice and play the exhibition games, but the level of intensity and the speed are not there. All of a sudden, you are in a regular-season game and you're playing the Montreal Canadiens, who are fast and on you. You don't have much time."

"He made a play in the third period. It was kind of later in the game - maybe five minutes or less to go. He had strength down low on the puck, hanging onto it with the thought process in his brain of, "We are up by one. Let's just grind it down." That was smart by him. He had a solid game."

Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 in the season opener. The team showed many positives, including strong individual efforts, solid goaltending, and a third period that protected and closed out the lead. Puck play was identified as the primary issue, marked by sloppy execution and turnovers. Slow decision-making and difficulty matching regular-season speed and intensity after preseason contributed to errors when moving the puck and getting it deep. Bobby McMann skated well, battled for pucks, attacked the net, made a smart late third-period play to preserve the lead, and delivered a solid game.

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