Fans asking for NHL referee to be removed from playoffs after favoritism towards Toronto

NHL referees are getting out of control during the 2025 NHL playoffs, after Evan Rodrigues was given an embellishment call after getting hit in the numbers by the Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton.

Game 2 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers remained intense. Tempers flared, and Scott Laughton demolished Evan Rodrigues, in what should’ve been a penalty for Laughton, but was a penalty for Rodrigues.

Rodrigues was given a minor penalty for “embellishment” for getting hit in the numbers. A ridiculous result of a play that Laughton began in the first place.

Fans would be irate and ask for referee Francois St.-Laurent to be removed from the series, since he’s incapable of being impartial or making the correct call.

Of course, after the incident took place, it has been trending on X, much to the chagrin of Gary Bettman and the NHL undoubtedly.

Surprisingly, Maple Leaf fans are debating the legitimacy of the embellishment minor, which is very telling of how bad things are now.

At the beginning of the third period, the Maple Leafs led the Panthers 3-2. Evan Rodrigues would eventually return to the ice.

Will the referees influence the game more than they already have in favor of Toronto?

Or is this just another way of the zebras making things right for the Maple Leafs after Sam Bennett’s lack of discipline for elbowing Anthony Stolarz? Either way, this is shameful.

Joseph Woll has stepped in for Anthony Stolarz in Game 2 and continues to hold down the crease, even after Brad Marchand has once again scored on the Maple Leafs.