In Saturday night's original six matchup, the Leafs emerged victorious with a 4-3 shootout win against the Rangers. However, frustrations mounted due to controversial officiating.
In overtime, with just 7 seconds remaining, Mitch Marner appeared to have a clear path to the net but was impeded by the Rangers, who had too many men on the ice. By the rulebook, this should have resulted in a penalty shot, not just a bench minor.
Despite the win, the Leafs victory was overshadowed by the officiating blunder. Such calls could potentially hurt teams, especially in crucial playoff moments. Unfortunately, history has shown that the NHL doesn't always adhere to its own rules, particularly when it involves the Leafs.
As Toronto gears up for another original six clash against the Boston Bruins on Monday, fans remain wary of the impact inconsistent officiating could have on their team's success.
POLL | ||
3 MARS | 220 ANSWERS Referees Under Fire For Bending Rules In Favor Of The Rangers Against The Leafs Do you think the Leafs deserved a penalty shot in OT? | ||
Yes | 146 | 66.4 % |
No | 74 | 33.6 % |
List of polls |