The game ended in overtime, but it may have felt even longer than that.
Four separate video reviews defined the contest between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals on Wednesday, with three apparent goals called off and a double-minor taken off the board.
At the end of it all, the Maple Leafs escaped with a 4-3 victory.
The first two video reviews occurred in the second period. First, John Carlson thought he’d put the Capitals up 3-1 when his shot beat Leafs goalie Joseph Woll.
But replays following a challenge from Toronto coach Craig Berube showed that Capitals forward Nic Dowd interfered with Woll, and the goal was called back.
Minutes later, Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies was called for a high-sticking double-minor.
The severity of the penalty — any infraction greater than a minor is reviewable — allowed officials to take a second look, and it was revealed that Dowd skated into Knies’ shoulder.
The Leafs winger was, consequently, freed from the penalty box.
In the third period, after the Capitals had indeed secured a 3-1 lead, Leafs winger Steven Lorentz thought he’d brought his team within one after a loose puck in the crease caromed off his body and into the net.
But, yet again, replays disagreed. Upon review, refs determined Lorentz directed the puck into the net with a distinct kicking motion, even though it came off of his upper leg and not his foot, as per the NHL rulebook.
“A goal also cannot be scored on a play where an attacking player kicks any equipment (stick, glove, helmet, etc.) at the puck, including kicking the blade of his own stick, causing the puck to cross the goal line.”
Later in the third period, after William Nylander cut the Capitals’ lead to 3-2, the Leafs appeared to tie things up when Knies tipped home a Morgan Rielly wrist shot from the point.
And here we go again.
Immediately, a referee waved the goal off for a high stick — and back to replay the zebras went.
In this case, no rules were up for debate — just whether Knies’ stick made contact with the puck above the crossbar.
While Sportsnet commentator Craig Simpson seemed certain the goal would count, along with many on social media, the call on the ice stood.
However, the Leafs once again got their goal back and sent the game to overtime with a Mitch Marner marker in the final minute. John Tavares scored the breakaway winner in overtime.
Reviews were already a topic of conversation among NHL GMs, as per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s latest 32 Thoughts column.
That conversation may only get louder.
The reviews were a huge talking point on social media.
