Auston Matthews lashes out verbally at officials after brutal game-deciding missed call
The Toronto Maple Leafs erased a 3-goal deficit to force OT against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night, but the officials once again dropped the ball when they failed to make a call that you simply have to call 100% of the time.
During the overtime period, Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun reached out and grabbed ahold of Auston Matthews' stick to gain an edge on him to set up the game-winning play and scoring his second of the game a moment later to lead the Yotes to a 5-4 win on the road.
Matthews was IRATE with the officials for the brutal non-call on the play, as he felt that Chychrun got away with one right in the line of sight of a pair of officials. The league's scoring leader did not hold back, verbally assaulting multiple officials before leaving the ice.
Matthews remains a player who doesn't draw many penalties, so he likely feels as though the referees are simply allowing opposing players to take liberties on him freely. I'd be frustrated too.
Officials cherrypicking when to use the rulebook and when to throw it out the window is an embarrassment to the league and I don't blame Matthews for letting the refs know how he felt at the end of this one.
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531393.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) blocks a shot by Team USA forward Jake Guentzel (59) during the third period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530971.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) blocks a shot by Team USA forward Jake Guentzel (59) during the third period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sidney Crosby (87) lifts the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy after winning against Team USA in overtime during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531100.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sidney Crosby (87) lifts the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy after winning against Team USA in overtime during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
