Toronto Maple Leafs furious after Pat Maroon's dangerous check goes uncalled

Refereeing has been a hot topic issue within the National Hockey League for many years in the sense that it appears to be inconsistent and while the idea of inconsistency is subjective, those who have had that discussion may be onto something, especially after witnessing last night's game and comparing incidents that occurred over a year apart.

Last season, Kyle Clifford hit Ross Colton while Colton's back was the primary point of contact but he appeared to be closer to the boards when he fell/was hit. Clifford also didn't appear to ease up as he approached Colton and finished the check through him, while in a vulnerable position. The hit resulted in a suspension for Clifford.





During game three Pat Maroon hit Jake McCabe in a similar fashion, and while the angle on the hit did show that he may have eased up, McCabe was in a vulnerable position as his back was turned to Maroon.

It can be argued that the hits were similar and that both penalties should fit the incident, however it would appear the Department of Player Safety takes into account situations on a case-by-case basis, or they don't know what they're doing at all. The problem isn't with the hits themselves, but the inconsistencies of how they're punished.