With playoff intensity already seeping into regular season matchups in the NHL, it looks like the recent clash between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators was anything but ordinary. And Captain Brady Tkachuk didn’t sugarcoat anything. “Clear as day what the issues (are). We took too many penalties, they scored on it and that’s the game. So that’s on us,” he said. However, despite Brady taking accountability over the 6-2 loss against the Maple Leafs, there were controversies that sparked a firestorm of debate echoing beyond the rink!

As soon as the first drop of the puck and a sense of deeper rivalry fueling the fire in the arena, the game between the Leafs and the Sens left players and fans frustrated. This was the classic Battle of Ontario in every sense—and perhaps even more so, where one disallowed goal became the lightning rod of debate. What exactly took place on the ice? “It was from Remembrance Day 2024,” a certain NHL insider revealed.

In one of the latest episodes of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman took a deeper note on the controversial moment. “This year it was the winning goal for Montreal and Boston, and the Sabres asked for a review because a puck hit Mike Matheson’s glove and then the Canadians scored, and their argument was (that) the Sabres was, it was a glove pass that was missed,” Friedman said. And further, he emphasized the importance of transparency in such situations, suggesting that the league could’ve benefitted from providing clearer explanations for their rulings to help everyone understand what exactly happened and why the decision was called out.

And Friedman, like a true hockey analyst, drew the parallels with some similar incidents the NHL reviewed in the past. Hence the reference from the most debated goal involving Mike Matheson, which the league ultimately ruled as the legal goal because of the absence of a deliberate glove pass! “The goal from Dallas that wasn’t kicked it like he was tripped and it went out and hit his skate, like they said, this goal with Matheson, he didn’t glove the puck; it was a clearing attempt that hit his glove and went somewhere,” Friedman pointed out. And this sparked the debate over the similar Leafs and Sens game, where he didn’t try to defend the Leafs exactly but rather explained how the NHL created a subtle but critical distinction.

Auston Matthews’ bold move raised serious questions for the NHL

With the Battle of Ontario in full display, the intensity shaking the league, it was the Leafs captain Matthews who wasted no time in stamping his authority amidst the scrums. Despite the Senators forward Greig skating dangerously close to the Maple Leafs bench, Matthews took the bold move to seize Greig’s stick and snapped it in half! Yep, it happened and reflected a symbolic act that proved to be provocative on the ice. And hey, it wasn’t just a heat-of-the-moment reaction but a clear message highlighting that it’s not a game to be bullied and cross the boundaries!

And let’s admit that the response came right after a string of questionable moves by Greig himself! It signaled that he was asking for some clash, and hence his actions proved it throughout the game. Previously too, he delivered a reckless cross-check to Tavares’ head that sparked outrage and let Matthew talk about it publicly: “I don’t really think it’s necessary to go down there and (do a) hardest shot competition into the net.” And this time, the captain’s bold move proved that the memory hadn’t faded yet.

Now, while many would say, perhaps, breaking a stick isn’t exactly standard captain behavior, didn’t this incident add a layer to the already existing intensity and leadership that playoff games often demand? Even fans were quick to back Matthews while interpreting the whole act as a bold stand in defense! And for the NHL, in every game where discipline and experience defined the scoreboard, this confrontation didn’t just show Matthews is leading his teams with goals but with grit. And for the Sens? Well, a clear sign that the Leafs have both the skill and the edge to go deep this postseason. Isn’t it?