Maple Leafs' players offer no comment on Game 6 officiating in loss to Lightning

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The defending Stanley Cup champions kept their hopes of three-peat alive after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime to force Game 7 but several controversial officiating calls that could have arguably impacted the outcome of Thursday night’s game left several Leafs’ players with little to say. 

The Leafs were close to closing out the series against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 3-2 lead halfway through the third period when officials called a high-sticking penalty against David Kampf. 

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A replay of the incident showed Kampf’s stick catching just underneath the shoulder pad of Lightning defenseman Callan Foote. Just 15 seconds into the power play, Toronto forward Alex Kerfoot got the same call. Nikita Kucherov capitalized on the opportunity to force overtime and Brayden Point scored the game-winner to keep Tampa Bay alive.

Lightning players celebrate a goal in the third period during the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 12, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

During the post-game pressers, Leafs’ players declined to comment on the officiating. 

"We don't have any comments about it," John Tavares said, via ESPN. "[It was] unfortunate the way it went in the third period, but I thought we regrouped well." 

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Auston Matthews echoed that sentiment, declining to comment multiple times. 

"I'm not going to comment on that," he said before repeating himself. "I'm not going to comment on that. What's in the past is in the past. It's about the next game." 

Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs looks on