NHL officials from Maple Leafs/Lightning game 4 removed from playoffs

The back and forth match-up saw each team trading wins until Tampa won the final 2 games of the series, both in overtime!

There were a combined 45 goals scored in series, and numerous penalties on both sides.

And it is the penalties and particularly the officiating that is continuing to draw attention and scrutiny to the Toronto/Tampa series.

The officials from game 4, which saw the Bolts beat the Leafs 7-3, have been removed from the rest of the NHL playoffs officiating schedule.

The refs from Leafs/Bolts Game 4 have been cut from the #StanleyCup officiating roster. Find out who's in and who's out: https://t.co/H0VmhCxOsM pic.twitter.com/bx2i8DDv9B— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) May 16, 2022

Although Tampa Bay was the 3rd most penalized team in the NHL this past year, and Toronto was the 15th, yet in Game 4 Toronto was short-handed 8 times, while Tampa was only 3 times.

The Leafs also had 50+ more PIM than Tampa.

That said it is common for the NHL to cut their referee platoon as they move into the later rounds of the playoffs and need less bodies, and though officiating calls should always be correct, there is a human element that needs to be accounted for in all wins and losses in the NHL.