Dennis Hildeby and a very young Toronto Maple Leafs squad strolled into Montreal and skated away with a win, thanks in part to a controversial no-goal call.
Rookie goaltender Dennis Hildeby played a crucial role in Toronto's 2-1 preseason victory over their rivals, the Montreal Canadians. Hildeby saved 26 of 27 shots, and had a fantastic evening, but it wasn't without its controversy, as a shot from Canadiens player Jared Davidson appeared to have crossed the goal line underneath Hildeby only to be waved off by the official.
As shared by Marc Dumont on X, here's a look at the call:
The shot by Davidson appeared to cross the line under the leg of Hildeby, but the officials could not conclusively see the puck go in, leading to the no-goal call that benefited the Maple Leafs. The play was blown dead before Hildeby wound up almost entirely inside of his net with the puck under his pad, and it was not ruled a continuation play, leading to some disappointment on the Habs' bench.
This decision could have been pivotal, as the Canadiens later scored a goal to narrow the deficit to 2-1 in the third period.
Nick Robertson continued his strong performance, scoring two goals, including the game-winner. With three goals in his last two preseason games, he is making a strong case for a regular spot on the roster, after a controversial play that led to the injury to William Nylander in the previous game between the two clubs on Thursday.
Hildeby has been solid throughout the preseason, looking to build on his success with the Leafs' AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies last season, where he recorded 21 wins, a .913 save percentage, and a 2.41 goals-against average. As a fourth-round pick in 2022, he is currently regarded as the Maple Leafs' top goaltending prospect and could see NHL action if Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz face injuries.
Hildeby did not play in any NHL games last season but served as a backup on several occasions. He now looks to be pushing for an NHL spot, and seems closer then the Maple Leafs' organization may have anticipated.
