The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets last night.
For the Toronto Maple Leafs, that’s three out of a possible four points over the last two games vs the referees.
Now I actually don’t mind the massive discrepancy in penalty calls over the last two games, even if it didn’t go in Toronto’s favor. The fact is, even-up calls are one of the worst things about the NHL, so this is not specifically the problem.
The problem is that the Leafs are getting called for inexplicably soft penalties, while blatant infractions against them go unpunished.
I know this will seem like whining and making excuses, but the penalty shot call on Marner in overtime was pathetic. A soft hook, usually uncalled, results in a penalty shot? Since when?
It wasn’t even a clear breakaway. The ref who called that should do his next game in the OHL.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In the last two games I saw Kerfoot take a penalty, ostensibly for looking at a guy; I saw a stickless Leaf player called for interference while the other player was holding two sticks; I saw Gauthier take a call because someone fell, and on and on.
So while the Leafs didn’t play their best game, considering the disadvantage, taking a point is alright.
Toronto Maple Leafs Other Problems
The Leafs other problems start and end with their coach.
Mike Babcock laughably talked to the media about math, bristling at the criticism of his non-sense plan to play his excellent starting goalie against a bottom feeder while saving his AHL quality backup goalie for a game against the league’s best team, and chief rival.
Babcock also inexplicably played Codi Ceci for nearly 20 minutes of 5v5 action last night, three minutes more than Auston Matthews, and more than both Jake Muzzin and Tyson Barrie.
This is an NHL coach making six million dollars per year, using Cody Ceci as a top pairing player.
And what about his crazy decision in overtime to take Matthews, Marner and Rielly off the ice because of who Columbus chose to start with?
Line matching against the Blue Jackets?
How about you just trust your best players?
This almost immediately led to a loss as the Blue Jackets best line made a joke out of Babcock and nearly ended the game on a breakaway before he could get Mikheyev and co. off the ice.
There’s a pretty good list of recent NHL teams that fired their coach mid-season and went on to win the Cup in the same season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs should seriously think about joining it.
But as bad as Mike Babcock was – and he was borderline incompetent – it was nothing compared to the game’s officiating. That penalty shot was just absolutely pathetic.
All things considered, getting a single point is a pretty good result.