'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

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Maple Leafs
By David Alter | Last updated 1/13/24

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe wasn't making any excuses for his team's 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

Despite holding a 3-0 lead after one period, the Avalanche stormed back in the second period to pick up their seventh victory in their last eight games.

Keefe said his team "stopped playing" when play resumed in the second period and wasn't flattered with his team's performance despite the lead after 20 minutes.

"We have one line going," he said of the opening period.

But controversy struck in the third period with the game tied 3-3. Auston Matthews was battling for a puck along the corner boards when Colorado's Josh Manson appeared to cross-check the Maple Leafs star.

When asked about the cross-check, Keefe explained that the referees didn't see it that way.

"The ref told me he didn't get cross-checked, he fell by himself into the boards," Keefe said. "Those are my feelings, I guess he didn't get cross-checked."

Matthews was hunched over in pain for some time after the play but made it to the bench on his own and didn't miss a shift. Keefe said there wasn't any concern about the player being injured on the play as a result.

Shortly after the play, Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren appeared to receive a slash from Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin that went uncalled.

Moments later, Jake McCabe was called for interference for a hit away from the puck on Colorado's Mikko Rantanen.

"It's a tough one to lose like that but I think we really didn't get any power-plays, either," Maple Leafs forward William Nylander said. "I thought that was a little unfair tonight, but that's a tough one."

The Avalanche had four power-play opportunities compared to one from Toronto. Drouin scored the lone power-play goal of the game at the 5:27 mark of the second period to kick off Colorado's scoring.