Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said the difference in Game 3 came down to his team not being direct enough when they had to be.

Despite being up 3-1 at one point in the second period, two quick goals and then a late one put the Florida Panthers up by one going into the third period. Although the Leafs were able to tie it up and force overtime, a Brad Marchand shot found its way past Joseph Woll to get the Panthers back in the series.

Berube felt that the Leafs strayed away from their game plan in the middle frame, and it left them susceptible to a bounce and luck despite getting back to it from the third onward.

“They had a good second. About that, we weren’t direct in the second,” Berube said after the game. “Turned too many pucks over, allowed them to come back at us and play their game, and got hemmed in too much. Third period, we did our thing again. I thought we had a good third. And OT is OT.”

Marchand’s line in particular has been giving the Leafs fits in the defensive zone through the series in terms of generating scoring chances and hemming them in the defensive zone for long stretches of time. The same applied on the winning goal where the trio cycled the puck and got Woll and the Leafs’ defence swarming, which ultimately created the bounce needed to end the game.

Berube acknowledges that the Marchand line has been effective and that the veteran, in particular, adds a different element.

“That’s a good line. And with Marchand on the line, it just adds more creativity to the line,” he said. “He’s a good player, makes plays, subtle little things he does on the ice. So it makes it more dangerous line offensively.”

In terms of the lineup, Berube had to scramble to make some adjustments, which included swapping Dennis Hildeby back to the bench as the backup due to Matt Murray getting sick. In terms of his starter, Joseph Woll, he felt that he did a solid job apart from the fourth goal against.

There was also a bit of a scare during the third period when defenceman Chris Tanev left the game for an extended period of time. Berube assured reporters that the reason for his absence had to do with an equipment issue, and Tanev taking a lot of hits is just what comes with being in the playoffs.

“I think they could forecheck hard, they’re physical. That’s the game,” he said. “Can we get better holdups at times? Yes, I mean, I think that’s important that we do that. But they’re gonna bang the body, that’s what they do. They rim everything in, they’re gonna get on you, and they’re gonna be physical. [Tanev’s] fine. I mean, it’s part of the game. We’re gonna get hit, we’re gonna hit. We just gotta deal with that.”