NHL referee explains Why Josh Manson Wasn't Penalized for Hit on Auston Matthews and it's ridiculous

With the game tied 3-3, Auston Matthews was battling for a puck when Josh Manson came in and cross-checked the Maple Leafs star. In the post-game scrum head coach Sheldon Keefe was asked about that play and answered:

Matthews was in obvious pain after the play but still finished the game.

Keefe was not blaming the referees though, as that usually comes with a cost for coaches in the NHL, but also put blame on the Maple Leaf players. With a few notable quips.

Keefe also benched Tyler Bertuzzi in the third period as the player only saw a couple early shifts.

William Nylander was asked his thoughts on the game and he responded being somewhat critical of the referees.

Nylander is right as there were a few calls that probably should have went Toronto's way, especially after there being zero calls both ways once the Avalanche scored a power play goal to make the game 3-1. That helped shift the momentum fully in the Avs court. The power play advantage was 4:1 for the Avalanche at the mark too.

Sometimes game management works and sometimes it does not. This is how NHL referees are told to call the game.

As Read On The Hockey News - 'The Ref Told Me He Didn't Get Cross-Checked, He Fell By Himself Into The Boards': Maple Leafs' Sheldon Keefe Explains Why Josh Manson Wasn't Penalized for Hit on Auston Matthews