Referee Makes Incorrect Call, Negating a Maple Leafs Goal and Infuriating Fans in the Process

The Leafs were in the midst of killing off their sixth penalty of the night late in the third period last night and appeared to have added a short-handed goal in the process until it was waived off.

With the Tampa Bay Lightning net empty, the Leafs were killing off a Chris Tanev penalty when Steven Lorentz out-muscled Jake Guentzel in the corner and corralled the loose puck with his glove before dropping it to the ice and nudging it to Pontus Holmberg, who put it into the empty net.

Unfortunately for Holmberg, the officials waved it off immediately, citing a hand pass from Lorentz as the reason, and because it was waved off, it could not be reviewed or challenged. Craig Berube was irate on the bench and fans let the officials hear it when play resumed, repeatedly chanting 'Ref you suck'. Moments later, the Lightning would gain the Leafs' zone and Brayden Point would score off of a quick Nikita Kucherov pass to make the game 5-2.

After being called out by Berube after Saturday's loss, scoring the next game would have been vindicating for Holmberg, but regardless, he looked much better Monday than he had in any other game so far this season.

The Leafs will look to turn in a similar effort on Tuesday as they complete their back-to-back in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.