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The defending Stanley Cup champions stored their hopes of three-peat alive after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in additional time to power Sport 7 however a number of controversial officiating calls that might have arguably impacted the result of Thursday night time’s recreation left a number of Leafs’ gamers with little to say.
The Leafs had been near closing out the sequence in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 3-2 lead midway by way of the third interval when officers known as a high-sticking penalty in opposition to David Kampf.
BRAYDEN POINT’S GAME-WINNER KEEPS LIGHTNING ALIVE
A replay of the incident confirmed Kampf’s stick catching simply beneath the shoulder pad of Lightning defenseman Callan Foote. Simply 15 seconds into the facility play, Toronto ahead Alex Kerfoot bought the identical name. Nikita Kucherov capitalized on the chance to power additional time and Brayden Level scored the game-winner to maintain Tampa Bay alive.
Lightning gamers have a good time a purpose within the third interval throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Might 12, 2022, in Tampa, Florida.
(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Pictures)
Throughout the post-game pressers, Leafs’ gamers declined to touch upon the officiating.
“We have no feedback about it,” John Tavares mentioned, through ESPN. “[It was] unlucky the best way it went within the third interval, however I assumed we regrouped properly.”
Auston Matthews echoed that sentiment, declining to remark a number of occasions.
“I am not going to touch upon that,” he mentioned earlier than repeating himself. “I am not going to touch upon that. What’s prior to now is prior to now. It is concerning the subsequent recreation.”
Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs seems to be on in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the Scotiabank Enviornment on Might 10, 2022, in Toronto.
(Mark Blinch/NHLI through Getty Pictures)
However Lightning coach Jon Cooper appeared to see issues otherwise.
“When a staff goes down 5-on-3 within the third interval, they need to earn their penalties. They earned them each. We took benefit,” he informed reporters.
Lightning middle Brayden Level celebrates after scoring throughout sudden-death additional time Thursday, Might 12, 2022, in Tampa, Florida.
(AP Picture/Chris O’Meara)
The Maple Leafs, who’ve been eradicated within the first spherical every of the previous 5 seasons, are 0-for-their-last-8 in close-out video games as they chase their first postseason sequence win since 2004.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
Supply: Fox News
