Officials for Game 7 revealed and it doesn't look good for the Leafs
The Maple Leafs will once again be fighting an uphill battle against the Bruins with regard to the officials that the NHL has chosen to oversee Game 7 in Boston. It's not Wes McCauley, thankfully, but the Leafs will still have to deal with two officials that have favoured the Bruins and home teams all season.
For tonight's Game 7, the NHL has announced that Kelly Sutherland and Eric Furlatt will be calling the game. The last two Game 7's between the Bruins and Leafs in 2018 and 2019 were officiated by McCauley and Sutherland and we all know how they ended. Sutherland also reffed Game 4, which saw the Bruins win 3-1 so it would seem the Leafs are starting the game at a disadvantage.
Through the season, the Leafs have a combined record of 4-3-1 while the Bruins are an astonishing 8-1-1 under these officials. Not to mention both officials have a home bias with home teams winning 63 percent (Furlatt) and 56 percent (Sutherland) of the time.
The Leafs may see this as a blessing with less calls going against the Bruins given their absolutely atrocious power play so far this series, but one of those non-calls or a soft call on the Leafs may very well determine the outcome of the game and series.
With no Auston Matthews and two officials that may have a bias towards the Bruins and against the Leafs, Toronto will be fighting an uphill battle before the puck even drops.
| POLL | ||
MAI 4 | 733 ANSWERS Officials for Game 7 revealed and it doesn't look good for the Leafs Is the NHL trying to sabotage the Leafs' comeback against the Bruins? | ||
| Yes | 516 | 70.4 % |
| No | 130 | 17.7 % |
| It could be worse | 87 | 11.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
