Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube made his feelings known about Ottawa Senators winger Ridly Greig's cross-check of John Tavares during Game 1, and once attention moved over to the press conference room.
Berube flashed a five-finger gesture from the bench as the play unfolded and later dropped a pointed comment to reporters after the Leafs' 6-2 win on Sunday.
Ultimately, however, the NHL decided not to suspend Ottawa’s Greig for his hit on veteran Tavares after studying the play post-game on Monday.
Greig’s second-period hit struck Tavares in the neck area as the Leafs forward finished a check. Officials initially assessed a five-minute major, which was downgraded to a two-minute minor after video review, prompting Berube's gesture.
Toronto capitalized, scoring one of three power-play goals on the ensuing man-advantage situation to extend their lead, and Berube was direct when asked postgame about Greig's action and his thoughts on the downgrade from a major to a minor offense.
“That’s not my call,” Berube said. “The referees and the league will look at things and make the calls they make. We’re not going to focus on that. We’ve got to focus on what we need to do the next game.”
As the coach was leaving the podium, he shouted, “Call the league.”
Meanwhile, Tavares declined to escalate the issue when asked.
“I’m just going to let the refs and the league handle it,” Tavares said. “I’m just going to compete hard and try to fight for every inch you can and, whatever way calls go, games go, you fight through it and you just continue to play.”
The Senators committed 15 penalties for 38 minutes in Game 1, leading directly to three Maple Leafs power-play goals. Greig also collided with goalie Anthony Stolarz later in the third period.
Stolarz missed Monday's session but according to Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan, the netminder was given a rest day with no issues coming off Game 1.
Toronto holds a 1–0 lead heading into Game 2, scheduled for Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Battle of Ontario will shift to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4.
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