Mike Babcock shares his thoughts on Nazem Kadri and the officiating in Game 2.

There are probably a lot of very angry Toronto Maple Leafs fans after Game 2 of the Leafs first round playoff series against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a frustrating game in many ways for the Maple Leafs, not the least of which was the fact that they were dominated on the scoreboard falling 3 - 0 before eventually losing 4 - 1, and following the game both the Maple Leafs players and their head coach commented on some of those frustrating moments in the game.

One of the big topics of course was the officiating in the game, or perhaps the lack thereof, as there were several plays in which no penalties were called when they could have been or too few penalties were called when they could have been. This of course played out on both sides of the ice but the Leafs will no doubt feel they got the worst of it as there were a number of dangerous plays directed at their players that would go uncalled during the game. Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock acknowledged that the officials on the ice did let a lot go but also added that his team could not focus on that aspect of the game.

"Does me no good to evaluate that," said Babcock.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman was quick to defend the officials in Game 2, although you can imagine that there's a good chance he was simply trying to avoid putting his foot in his mouth.

"It's playoffs so the refs have a hard job, too, I guess," said Hyman.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, who has been invisible this series, had similar comments regarding the officials.

"The refs were trying to do their best and you have to roll with the cards you are dealt," said Matthews.

Perhaps the most intriguing tidbit of the night however came not on the subject of the officials, but on the subject of forward Nazem Kadri. Kadri was ejected from the game for a vicious crosscheck to the head of Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk and many now expect that a suspension will follow for the repeat offender. 

Babcock of course could not confirm this fact but did inform The Athletic's James Mirtle that he will use either William Nylander or Patrick Marleau at center should Kadri be suspended. According to Mirtle it sounded to him like Babcock does expect to be without Kadri for at least Game 3. On top of that early signs indicate that Kadri could be headed for a very long suspension this time.

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