The play occurred nearly 6 minutes into the 3rd period of a 4-2 game with the Leafs being outshot by the Pens after Denis Malgin went to bat down a puck near the Pittsburgh net with his stick above the shoulders. The puck came down and struck Pens defender Kris Letang in the face. Letang reacted how a player normally would when high-sticked in the face and, naturally, the arm went up by the official.
The refs and linesmen gathered near the box to discuss the play, but the call on the ice was upheld and Malgin was sent to the box, despite having informed the official who made the call that it was the puck that hit Letang and not his stick. However, his explanation fell on deaf ears.
Thankfully the Leafs were able to successfully kill off the penalty.
POLL | ||
15 NOVEMBRE | 308 ANSWERS NHL officials show their incompetence with phantom high-sticking penalty call on Leafs forward Denis Malgin Should coaches be able to challenge phantom penalty calls? | ||
Yes | 282 | 91.6 % |
No | 26 | 8.4 % |
List of polls |