After rattling off 13 wins in a row, the New Jersey Devils could not catch a break against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the fans are displeased.
A trio of disallowed goals for New Jersey had Devils fans all sorts of rattled at the Prudential Centre - where they fell 2-1 to the Maple Leafs - so much so that they began littering the ice with debris after the third goal was called back.
The first two goals, ruled no goal via goaltender interference, were called back fairly quickly by officials on a pair of plays that dramatically inhibited Matt Murray’s ability to make the save. After the third negated goal, which was ruled a distinct kicking motion against Erik Haula, the fans had had enough.
"It's disapointing, it's dangerous," Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said. "I think we felt better to beat the crowd than the Devils tonight."
As Sportsnet’s Chris Cuthbert described the scene on the broadcast, the flurry began with a hat, however, fans quickly turned to other more dangerous objects, namely beer cars, which quickly brought the game to a halt.
Things eventually got chaotic enough that the game had to be halted for an extended period, while the Toronto Maple Leafs exited their bench and headed down the tunnel to avoid being struck.
"It's not like they're throwing it just for joy, they're throwing it to try and hit us," Mitch Marner said sternly to reporters postgame. "It's the first I've ever seen it, it's insane."
Hockey Twitter, as it has never been shy to do, had itself plenty of fun at the expense of an enraged New Jersey crowd following the pandemonium.
If it’s any consolation for Devils fans, they did finally get one back later on in the period, as Dougie Hamilton finally tallied a marker that would stand at 14:52 in the third period.
That marker would be all the Devils would get in the end, however, as the Maple Leafs came away with a 2-1 victory, snapping the Devils streak.
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