Maple Leafs Coach Reveals Message On Revenge Against Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube wasn’t a fan of the hit Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov laid on Scott Laughton on Saturday.

The hit knocked Laughton out of the game, and he will remain out of the lineup on Tuesday when the teams rematch. Given that Laughton remains out of the lineup, Berube sent a message to the team to “get a lick” in on Zadorov if the opportunity presents itself.

“Well, nobody would be happy with that. It’s a tough hit,” Berube said on Tuesday, via Sportsnet. “It should inject some fire in you, for sure. But we don’t want to be stupid either.

“We gotta play the game. Yeah, opportunity arises to get a good lick on a guy, get a lick on a guy.”

There was no penalty on the play, but it’s clear the Maple Leafs coach wasn’t a fan of Zadorov’s hit.

He also thought the hit was dirty and felt like the Bruins’ defenseman hit Laughton in the head. Berube, however, was glad that Bobby McMann stood up for Laughton and fought Zadorov.

“It was a great response by Bobby. He’s sticking up for his teammate,” Berube said after the game on Saturday. “I thought it was a head shot, I have to take a closer look at it, but I will.”

The Bruins will host the Maple Leafs on Tuesday in a rematch of their game on Saturday, which Boston won 5-3.