A goal from Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch was disallowed after the linesman informed referees of a high-sticking double-minor earlier in the play.
Sabres forward Jason Zucker caught Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev up high as he entered the zone. Play continued with the puck eventually working its way to Tuch in the slot, who fired it past Leafs goaltender Matt Murray to tie the game.
The Sabres celebrated while the officials huddled to discuss the play.
“The goal is disallowed on the play,” announced referee Kelly Sutherland. “There’s a double minor.”
Linesmen are permitted to report high-sticking penalties under Rule 32.4:
The Linesperson must stop play immediately and report to the Referees … when it is apparent that an injury has resulted from a high-stick that has gone undetected by the Referees and requires the assessment of a double-minor penalty.
In this case, it was a quick play from the high-stick to the goal. According to the rulebook, play should have been stopped by the linesman. Once the goal was scored, though, he reported the high stick to the refs, and the penalty was assessed.
The officials then reviewed the high sticking call, confirming the penalty.
Buffalo went from what they thought was a tie game back to a 1-0 deficit – and four-minutes shorthanded. Toronto scored once on the ensuing man-advantage to go up 2-0.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Buffalo Sabres 6-3. Referees for the game were Kelly Sutherland (#11) and Jake Brenk (#26); linespersons were Jonathan Deschamps (#80) and Michel Cormier (#76).
