Maple Leafs catch a break, tie playoff series

OTTAWA -- Here's a switch: The Toronto Maple Leafs actually had good things to say about NHL officials.

After spending most of the playoffs complaining about calls that went against them, the Maple Leafs got a critical one in their favor, allowing them to hang on for a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night.

A video review with 25.4 seconds remaining disallowed what had initially been ruled a Senators goal, and the Leafs managed to tie their Eastern Conference semifinal series at 2.

"That's the only call they could've made," Toronto's Shayne Corson said. "The puck didn't go into the net. Obviously, we're happy with that call."

The play began when Ottawa's Chris Phillips checked Bryan McCabe off the puck behind the Toronto net. Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph stopped Phillips' wraparound attempt, but couldn't find the puck, which lay under him. Ottawa's Marian Hossa dove headfirst into the crease and pushed Joseph into the net.

Referee Kevin Pollock, standing behind the net, ruled it a goal. A video review showed the puck did not cross the line, and what Pollock saw was the black nob of a stick.

"I was standing right there and I thought there was no way the puck went in," said McCabe. "I really didn't have a doubt in my mind. He pointed, but there was no puck in the net. I really wasn't too worried."

The Senators refused to make the ruling an issue.

"There's not much that we can do now," Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson said.

Alyn McCauley scored twice, both times converting rebounds of Gary Roberts shots, as the Maple Leafs won their first road game of the postseason after four losses.