After a very disappointing second period that saw the Blues score three times, the third period between the Blues and Leafs got very chippy. Mid-way through the third, Mitch Marner was cross-checked by Ryan Suter at the side of the Blues' net when the puck was nowhere near him. Matthews took exception to Suter's unnecessary shot and gave him a cross-check of his own, which sent Suter crashing to the ice in a heap. Somehow, Matthews ended up with the only penalty on the play, which was baffling to the Leafs l, considering Suter's infraction was very blatant and right in front of officials.
Following the game, Leafs head coach Craig Berube defended Matthews' actions, while also calling out officials for their inconsistency.
While the Leafs inched closer to tying the game on a goal from Steven Lorentz later in the third, they ultimately fell again to Berube's old team 4-2 thanks to an empty net goal by the Blues. The Leafs will not have much time to regroup as they head to Minnesota on Sunday to take on another one of Ryan Reaves' old teams, the Minnesota Wild.
POLL | ||
3 NOVEMBRE | 1766 ANSWERS Craig Berube Calls Out Officials in St. Louis, Supports Auston Matthews' Cross-Check on Ryan Suter Should Ryan Suter have gotten a penalty initially on the play for his hit on Marner? | ||
Definitely | 1439 | 81.5 % |
Nah, Marner is soft | 204 | 11.6 % |
They both should have gotten one | 123 | 7 % |
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