The Tampa Bay Lightning won Game 6 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and took the first-round series to Game 7. Nikita Kucherov tied the game at 3 in the third period, and in overtime, Brayden Points scored the game-winner.
The Leafs’ players weren’t happy after the game, and it’s easy to see why. The Bolts scored their equalizer in the third on a two-man advantage, as two controversial high-sticks sent David Kampf and Alex Kerfoot to the penalty box.
And during overtime, TV footage has made fans go wild over calls not being given for several Toronto penalties. In one sequence, Auston Matthews was battling for position in front of the goal. Alex Killorn didn’t let him, and it’s clear that he’s holding Matthews by the jersey for several seconds.
Matthews was tripped up at center ice just before Brayden Point’s game-winning goal. But no call was played.
After the game, experts agreed that Alex Killorn should’ve been called for a penalty for the holding on Matthews.
“This might be worse than the phantom high stick and the missed too many men call. This is some clutch and grab era stuff,” said reporter Scott Wheeler.
“Remember when you were a little kid and you’d get bored in your minor hockey practices, so you and your BFF would each hold onto one end of each of your sticks and drag one another around the ice? That’s what Auston Matthews was expected to do here.”
Leafs’ players were seen arguing with officials on the ice, probably over the lack of calls. But every single player responded” no comments” when asked about it afterward.
“I’m not going to comment on that,” said Auston Matthews.