Cameras catch Gavin McKenna's viral reaction to a Maple Leafs penalty
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Gavin McKenna was not happy with the tripping call on Jack Roslovic, and the Maple Leafs rookie let the bench know it during Thursday's 5-4 win over the Rangers.
Gavin McKenna had a very clear opinion about the tripping call on Jack Roslovic Thursday night, and the Maple Leafs rookie did not hide it from the bench.
The penalty came after Alexis Lafreniere went down along the boards in Toronto's 5-4 win over the Rangers.
TSN shared the clip, and another angle catches the 18-year-old, wearing No. 92, reacting beside Zack MacEwen.
His body language did most of the talking.
Fans on social media had plenty of fun with the moment.
Rookies rarely win arguments with officials, but you can't fault a kid for wearing his heart on his sleeve.
Why the call mattered
Toronto could not afford to hand the Rangers a power play.
New York arrived at 7-3-1, but just 1-3-1 on the road, and Lafreniere brought seven goals and 13 points into the night.
Adam Fox had 10 assists and Mika Zibanejad had nine points, so the Blueshirts have plenty of firepower.
The Leafs came in on a two-game winning streak after a 6-2 win in Columbus, though they were only 3-3-1 at home.
Roslovic has nine points and a $4,000,000 cap hit this season.
A rookie learning on the fly
McKenna has six points on a $1,075,000 cap hit, including a game-winner and a power-play goal, but he sits at minus-5.
Things looked different last week, when he sat for most of a game and Jim Hiller took the blame.
The Leafs head to Edmonton on Saturday night to face Connor McDavid, which gives McKenna another big stage right away.
Toronto would love to see that edge show up in the goals column, and a lot fewer glares at the refs.
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