Leafs winger the victim of a controversial penalty call, ejected from game
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann is doing everything he can to stay in the lineup in his limited minutes with the team. On Wednesday, the Maple Leafs were facing off against the Anaheim Ducks on the second half of a back-to-back when disaster struck for McMann.
During the second period of play with the score 0-0, Ducks defenceman Pavel Mintyukov was dumping the puck into the Leafs' zone when McMann followed through on a hit. Mintyukov went into the boards hitting his face off the top rim of the boards, cutting his face. After a lengthy review of the play, McMann was slapped with a 5-minute major for boarding and was also issued a game misconduct on the play.
Former Leafs defenseman and current TSN personality Carlo Colaiacovo disagreed with the call, saying it was a clean hit shoulder to shoulder and that it was Mintyukov that put himself in a position to be hurt by committing to the shot instead of properly bracing himself to receive the hit.
Mintyukov left for repairs but had returned to play. McMann had the rest of the night off. Thus far, we do not know whether Player Safety will offer McMann any supplemental discipline. With how tough George Parros is on the Leafs, it wouldn't be surprising to see McMann fined or suspended.
The 27-year-old has scored 1 goal and 4 points in 14 games this season for the Leafs while averaging 9:27 in ice time.
| POLL | ||
4 JANVIER | 631 ANSWERS Leafs winger the victim of a controversial penalty call, ejected from game Do you think the McMann hit was a clean hit? | ||
| Yes, shoulder to shoulder | 448 | 71 % |
| No, Mintyukov was in a vulnerable position | 75 | 11.9 % |
| It's on Mintyukov to protect himself there | 108 | 17.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
