Former NHL defenseman Marc Methot took to Twitter recently, criticizing the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans for blaming the referees for their Game 1 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Methot didn’t hold back, stating: “Blaming the refs after getting absolutely waxed 7-3 just screams loser mentality. Take the L and shift the focus to Game 2. With Cernak now out and potentially Hedman, the Leafs should manage to get back into this thing. There are no more excuses.”
The Maple Leafs and their fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with the officiating in Game 1, particularly with referee Wes McCauley, who seems to be a bad omen for the team. The Leafs have an 0-8 record in playoff games with McCauley as the referee (read more about it here)
Toronto suffered a crushing 7-3 defeat in Game 1, falling behind 3-0 in the first period and facing boos from their own fans as they left the ice. The Lightning were given eight powerplay opportunities, scoring on four of them, while the Leafs were granted just four powerplays, capitalizing on two.
Marc Methot, who played in the NHL from 2006 to 2019 for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, and Dallas Stars, is no stranger to the pressures and scrutiny of playoff hockey. Over his career, he appeared in 624 regular-season games and 38 playoff games, scoring three goals and adding six assists for a total of nine points in the postseason, with a +2 rating and 24 penalty minutes. Marc Methot Rips Maple Leafs
