Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe and Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice haven't been shy about making their feelings known about officiating during their second-round series.
On Saturday, Keefe took the latest verbal dig.
Asked about the Leafs having had far more power plays than the Panthers in two games (Toronto is 1-for-7 with the man advantage, while Florida is 0-for-2), Keefe pointed to the opposition.
"We're getting hit in the head a lot, so there's that," said Keefe, whose team trails 2-0 with the series heading to Florida on Sunday. "The officials are making the calls, and there is a lot more out there too, but that's part of it. We have to remain disciplined."
Keefe didn't get his wish on Friday when Florida's Sam Bennett avoided suspension for a cross-check on Michael Bunting in Game 2, with the league opting to limit the punishment to a $5,000 fine. Keefe said after Game 2 he felt Bennett's hit was comparable to Auston Matthews' cross-check on Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin last year that resulted in a two-game suspension for the Leafs star.
Maurice didn't see eye-to-eye with Keefe on his feelings on Bennett.
“I didn’t see the outdoor game. I know that’ll shock you, that you wouldn’t all be focused on the Leafs games. I had a pre-scout for the pesky Florida Panthers. So, I can’t comment on that,” Maurice said. “Everybody seemed to survive that.
“The tangle up behind the net (with Knies and Bennett), I think we’ve been on the other side of the ledger enough.”
Bennett also got tangled up with Matthew Knies earlier in Game 2, resulting in a concussion for the Leafs rookie winger. The Leafs have said Knies will miss at least Games 3 and 4.
In Game 1, cameras caught Maurice holding up all five fingers on one hand and one on the other during a stoppage — signalling the amount of penalties called to each team.
The Panthers had the second-most penalties in the league during the regular season.
Watch Game 3 on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet or SN NOW.
