The Maple Leafs lost 5-1 to the Blues earlier this month in Berube's first game against his former team.
For the first time since being let go by the St. Louis Blues, Craig Berube will be on the other side of the benches, walking out of the away team tunnel inside the Enterprise Center.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had the chance to win their first game under Berube against his former squad on Oct. 24, but instead, received a 5-1 battering from the team that's now sixth in the Central Division.
Toronto will have another chance on Saturday, this time in St. Louis., where Berube will return.
"I had a great stop there, got a lot of special memories there and a lot of people that I became really close with there. I think we had success there and I worked with a lot of great players that I'm very close to still, obviously organization too," Berube said on Friday.
"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."
Joseph Woll got the start for that game — his first of the season, and, against his hometown team — and allowed four goals on 26 shots. Toronto's one goal in the game came off the stick of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who scored his first as a Maple Leaf.
It appears that from Woll's comments on Friday following practice, he'll get the start on Saturday. Following Friday's skate, Berube wasn't ready to reveal the starting goaltender but did say that the coaching staff always looks into a player's homecoming game.
"We always consider those things. They're not the number one and most important thing. We're still talking about it, about the start tomorrow. But it is part of the conversation."
The Maple Leafs are coming off back-to-back wins against the Winnipeg Jets and the Seattle Kraken where they outscored their opponents 10-5. The Maple Leafs' hottest line of Max Pacioretty, John Tavares, and William Nylander have combined for 14 points in the last two games.
Matthew Knies also has five goals in his last six games.
"I think that he just understands what type of player he is and he's doing it shift to shift, in my opinion," Berube said on Friday.
"That power forward, very strong, skating direct north, hard at the net, physical, those types of things. He knows when he creates those loose pucks for those guys to get to the net, and he's getting rewarded from it."
Toronto has an optional morning skate in St. Louis on Saturday morning. Following that, we'll likely find out who the starting goaltender is, plus who'll be a healthy scratch against the Blues.
Where To Watch
In Canada, you can find the game nationally on Sportsnet and CBC. For the United States, ESPN+ and Fubo Sports US will have the matchup. Puck drop is scheduled for shortly after 7:00 p.m. ET.