Berube ahead of facing Blues: I have 'special memories' of coaching them

Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss Craig Berube looked back fondly on his time with the St. Louis Blues before coaching against them Saturday night.

"Listen, I had a great stop there," he told reporters, including TSN's Mark Masters, hours before the game. "(I've) got a lot of special memories there, and a lot of people that I became really close with. We had success there, and I worked with a lot of great players that I'm very close to still, (and) obviously the organization, too. But for me, it's a special place because of the people.

"They love their sports, and they really root their teams on. I had a real good time there."

Berube led the Blues to their only Stanley Cup championship in 2019 after taking over in midseason. The 58-year-old guided St. Louis until he was fired last December, having failed to get the club past the second round and after missing the playoffs entirely in 2022-23.

The Maple Leafs hired Berube to replace the fired Sheldon Keefe in May.

Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll, who was born in nearby Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, downplayed the notion that he's thinking about his own homecoming.

"Regardless of who you play (or) what time of year, there's always pressure playing here," he said. "That's not really my focus, (it's) just going out and doing what I need to do, and hopefully at the end of that, it's smiles and I get to enjoy the win."

The Leafs entered Saturday sitting third in the Atlantic Division at 6-4-1. The Blues were sixth in the Central at 5-6-0.