Craig Berube points to mental grind, lack of patience as reasons for loss vs. Wild

""It's a tough travel schedule, mixed in with a lot of late nights on the road trip," Maple Leafs' head coach Craig Berube said. "That's where you have to be smarter, manage the game a little bit better.""

""We talked before the game, it's a mental grind tonight," Berube said. "You need to do things right, you need to be patient and smart and I thought we didn't do that well enough tonight and it cost us the game.""

""We made three mistakes, the line change goal, two penalty goals against," Berube said. "We just weren't detailed enough in certain areas and it cost us the hockey game, made a good push in the third, but it was too late.""

""I think he's battling a little bit, with traffic and stuff like that," Berube said. "He'll be fine.""

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 6-3 to the Minnesota Wild while being outshot 38-30 and surrendering six goals for the third time in four games. The Leafs played five games in eight days and begin seven games in 13 days to close January, with a long road trip contributing to fatigue and a slow start. Coach Craig Berube cited travel, late nights and a need to manage the game smarter. Berube identified three costly moments: a line-change goal and two power-play goals. Joseph Woll was pulled after allowing five goals on 29 shots, but Berube said Woll is battling traffic and will be fine. The Wild sit third in the NHL at 28-13-9 through 50 games, and the Leafs will continue a five-game home stand on Wednesday.

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