Morgan Rielly Controversy: A Familiar Story With a Completely Different Ending

For Senators fans, the Morgan Rielly controversy Friday night was a play they'd seen before but the call this time couldn't have been more different.

Almost 30 years to the day since referee Kerry Fraser missed a high stick by Wayne Gretzky on Doug Gilmour in the Conference Final, Leaf fans now have another chapter to add to their big Stanley Cup Playoff book they call, "Worst Officiating Ever."

With Toronto down 2-1 in the game and facing elimination Friday night, Morgan Rielly briefly looked like he had scored in the second period to tie the game.

Replays seemed to show that Panther goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had initially kept the puck out of the net. Thinking he had frozen the puck for long enough and the play was over, Bobrovsky began to get up and, as he did, another Leaf player poked at the puck and it crossed the line. The thing is – and the broadcast reviewed the whole play with sound up – the whistle never actually blew.

The play was deemed to be dead and so the goal didn't count. 

"It happened quickly," Rielly said. "And obviously they reviewed, so it is what it is." 

For Ottawa Senators fans looking in on the action, it might have brought to mind a similar play just two months ago in a game against Colorado. See if it sounds familiar. 

Thinking he had frozen the puck for long enough and the play was over, Ottawa goalie Mads Sogaard began to get up and, as he did, a Colorado player poked at the puck and it crossed the line. The thing is – and the broadcast reviewed the whole play with sound up – and the whistle never actually blew. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IK1jOzY98s[/embed]

The play was deemed to be live and so the goal did count. Two strikingly similar plays, two very different decisions. 

Had the officials called the Rielly play with the same template they used in the Ottawa-Colorado game, the Leafs might still be playing. Instead, it's a tough pill and another long summer in Toronto where big changes are expected.