The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Washington Capitals in a thrilling 6-4 win after a loud back-and-forth hockey game with fireworks on both sides.
That’s what the lede would be if video reviews didn’t exist.
Instead, the Maple Leafs were involved in a wild comeback overtime win that saw two goals in the final four minutes and three goals disallowed, two for them and one for the Capitals. The funny albeit frustrating part about it was that all three goals that were called back could have gone either way. Not so much because they were borderline, but because nobody seems to really know what the rulebook means.
First, there was a bomb from Capitals defenceman John Carlson that left the net as quickly as it entered it. Upon review, it was determined that Dowd interfered with Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll, and the goal was overturned. He was in the paint, but it still felt like a bit of a soft call that the Leafs benefitted from. You be the judge.
and it’s no goal pic.twitter.com/s8t3cio0XJ
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 14, 2024
The Capitals made this redundant pretty quickly, scoring not long afterwards. The third period is where the Maple Leafs felt the effects of it.
Looking to make a statement and inject some energy into the team, the fourth line put in a good forecheck and Steven Lorentz was rewarded for driving the net with a bounce off of his upper thigh and into the net. It was initially called a good goal, but after a Capitals challenge, it was determined that there was a kicking motion. Seems rare that we ever see a kicking motion called when it goes off of the thigh, but there’s a first for everything. Again, you be the judge.
they’re looking at the Lorentz goal pic.twitter.com/qj93MmLXnO
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 14, 2024
Matthew Knies made quick work of the no-goal, dancing through Capitals defenders and almost potting a highlight reel goal of his own before Nylander jammed the puck home as it danced on the goal line. 3-2 Washington.
Knies quickly made another effort to play hero, redirecting a Morgan Rielly point shot for what looked to be the tying goal. It was instantly called no goal due to a tip above the crossbar, but the video review proved it to be much closer than anticipated. The argument from the broadcast was that Knies tipped the puck below the bar although the majority of the stick was above it, but it’s tough to get those calls overturned if they were called no goal to begin with and there isn’t definitive evidence.
No problem for the Maple Leafs. A rare Mitch Marner one-timer with the net empty and a late power play tied the game at three. No, seriously. There’s video proof!
MITCH MARNER 🚨
TIE GAME ON THE POWER PLAY pic.twitter.com/CaHd0K3l54
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 14, 2024
A lopsided overtime in Toronto’s favour ended with as clutch a save as you can get from Joseph Woll on Alex Ovechkin, sending the puck the other way for John Tavares to pick up and subsequently ice the game for the Maple Leafs.
After arguably their worst effort of the season against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, the Maple Leafs displayed some gutsiness and pulled off a win when the odds were tipped the other way, with special props to Sam Kim and Jordan Bean in the video room.
