Maple Leafs burned by no-goal call in season-ending loss to Panthers
Morgan Rielly and his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates thought they tied up Friday's Game 5 against the Florida Panthers late in the second period, but a play that was ruled no goal on the ice was upheld on review.
NO GOAL! ❌
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 13, 2023
Morgan Rielly jams the puck on the net, but it is called no goal and confirmed after a video review by the Situation Room in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/zgoSte9fU7
Here's a closer look at the play, along with the disappointed reactions from Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas and his staff.
No goal for Morgan Rielly as the play was deemed dead before the puck crossed the line#LeafsForever | #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/ff3JprwMar
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) May 13, 2023
The NHL's situation room said the referee "deemed the play dead" before the puck crossed the line and that the officials made the call in accordance with Rule 78.5 (xii). It states potential goals are to be disallowed when the referee determines play is stopped, even if he hasn't blown the whistle.
Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said postgame he thought the goal was good, according to The Hockey News' Mike Stephens.
The Leafs eventually scored the tying goal, as William Nylander buried one with under five minutes left in the third period. However, the Panthers won the game in overtime on Nick Cousins' tally that ended Toronto's season.
Rielly netted a goal earlier in the second frame to cut the Panthers' lead to 2-1.
The Panthers entered Game 5 leading the best-of-seven series 3-1.