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Disastrous Night for Maple Leafs Has Brandon Carlo Deservedly Caught in the Crosshairs
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
A defensive collapse and controversial comments have pushed defenceman Brandon Carlo in the Maple Leafs' spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
In what appears to be a very common occurrence through the Leafs' first six games of the season, Anthony Stolarz was crashed into yet again on Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken.
It wasn't just once, but twice, and both times, Brandon Carlo was front and center.
The first incident happened on the Kraken's third goal with Carlo inadvertently shoving Jaden Schwartz into his own goaltender. However, It was the second incident that has drawn the ire of Leafs Nation.
Former Leafs forward Mason Marchment went full speed into Stolarz at the end of the second period, sending the netminder and himself into the Leafs' goal.
Instead of immediately jumping in to defend his goaltender, Carlo stood over Marchment until Stolarz started to attack the Kraken forward himself, and only then did Carlo decide to get involved.
Brandon Carlo's Post-Game Comments Infuriate Leafs Nation
Asked about his reaction, or lack there of following the overtime loss, the Leafs defenceman issued a very tone-deaf statement.
"As I saw the referee call the penalty, you don't want to do too much to retaliate... Once you see Stolie get up and be angry, too, you want to try and give him a shot. But overall, you want to go on the power-play as well But overall, I think the power-play is useful thing in that situation."
Carlo's lack of response during the play was infuriating, but his post-game comments on why he chose not to react put him firmly in the crosshairs of Leafs Nation and Leafs analysts alike.
Brandon Carlo Under Fire
'Leafs Talk' hosts JD Bunkis and Sam McKee led the charge in calling out Carlo's lack of response Saturday night during their episode following the game.
"You have to send a message to the league that if guys are going to do this, they're going to pay the price. If you're 6-foot-6 and the team gives up a first round pick and one of their top three prospects for you, I can't have you have more nights like this," said an outraged Bunkis.
Bunkis went on to call it the worst non-response in this era of Leafs hockey, which is quite the statement considering this has been a topic of discussion for almost the entirety of the Auston Matthews era.
The Leafs played a lot of hockey this week, with 4 games on the schedule. Next week is a relatively light week, with the Leafs having a couple of days off to get their bearings back before taking on the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, followed by a back-to-back home-and-home series against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday and Saturday.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 19 | 798 ANSWERS Disastrous Night for Maple Leafs Has Brandon Carlo Deservedly Caught in the Crosshairs What infuriated you more, Brandon Carlo's lack of reaction to his goalie getting run over, or his comments about it? | ||
| Lack of reaction | 290 | 36.3 % |
| Comments sent me to another level | 67 | 8.4 % |
| They were both horrible | 365 | 45.7 % |
| The whole thing is overblown | 76 | 9.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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