Newark. When the New Jersey Devils’ third goal was disallowed, the crowd erupted at The Rock.
Suddenly, beer cans, soda cups, and food rained on the ice — whereupon the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs ran into the locker room.
– I tried to get them to stop throwing things, but I got a chicken wing, sighs home star Eric Hola.
It was the night the Devils were plotting to break the club record with their 14th consecutive win, but it all went wrong.
They scored more goals than the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs, but three of them were disallowed – first twice again for goalie interference, then because Eric Hoola hit the ball in the third period.
And when that goal was also – which would have meant a 1-2 reduction and a good chance for the home team to catch up – complete chaos erupted at The Rock.
Leave the ice
Beer cans, mugs, food and all, to a deafening roar of indignation rained through the ice.
The Leafs players took the safe bet and ran to the locker room.
– It was very dangerous to stay, they threw cans and soda cups, I think Rasmus Sandin got a glass on the head. Total madness, says star Mitch Marner.
Fellow veteran Mark Giordano agrees.
– We can laugh now, because everyone made it through unscathed. But someone could have been hurt. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my NHL years, he says.
saw his fans
The hosts’ players were also not happy with the crowd’s behaviour.
– I tried to get them to stop throwing things but I got a chicken wing, she sighs, kicking a hula.
Eventually, however, the game resumed, and with just over five minutes remaining, Dougie Hamilton managed to score thanks to an assist from Fabian Zetterlund – and a great effort finished off a fine exit from the game.
But the Leafs fought back and thus snapped the Devils’ thirteen-game winning streak – with the main responsibility, in fact, being Swedish rookie Pontus Holmberg. His first-half goal—the first in his NHL career—was the clincher.
– After what happened, it was more beautiful to beat the crowd than to beat the demons, says team captain John Tavares.
