NHL Video Review Team Faces Backlash After Controversial Call Costs Maple Leafs a Crucial Game

The Toronto Maple Leafs sat at 6-5-1 prior to last night's game and desperately needed a win to get off the slide of tough games. The previous night ended in disappointment as they lost to the St. Louis Blues. Last night, the Leafs trailed 1-0 to the Minnesota Wild. The start of it all was highly controversial as to whether or not the opening goal counted. The goal, upon review, was indeed counted, but many question its legitimacy as it seemed to have been kicked in.

On the play, Ryan Hartman is close to Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz and appears to make a clear kicking motion to the puck. Replays make it seem as though Hartman winds up his foot as the puck travels into the net, a move that usually warrants review and more times than not results in the goal being taken away. Despite the movement, officials counted the goal, to the dismay of the Leafs and their faithful. The call further illustrates what some perceive as an inconsistent style of officiating when it comes to goals that involve kicking motions of the feet.

Looking from the other angle, it really does appear that Hartman's foot makes contact with John Tavares' stick and propels the puck into the net. Technically, yes, the last item to make contact with the puck was indeed Tavares' stick; the situation becomes very gray, though, because Hartman's kick arguably created the movement from Tavares' stick that made the puck contact it last. Leafs fans argue this should be considered no goal because Hartman's movement interfered with play, in essence forcing Tavares's stick into action.

The Leafs believed Hartman's kicking motion was directly influential in Tavares' involvement and should, in fact, have been enough to wipe the goal from the ledger. By and large, the rulebook of the NHL clears up any sort of kicking motion as one intended to be used either within the result of a play or a goal that will call for review and possible disallowing. But because Hartman didn't kick the puck onto his own stick, nor did he score directly with his foot, the situation falls into a gray area, but many Leafs fans feel like the officials passed up an opportunity to make the right call.

For the Leafs, controversial plays like these seem all too common this season. Last night after the game, head coach Craig Berube also expressed his frustrations. With that being said, there were some positives to take away from this game. Auston Matthews did stand up for Mitch Marner as a result of the hit taken, which is great to see in terms of leadership. The Leafs did manage to get the game back even before the period ended, leaving a glimmer of hope toward turning around this hurting season.