‘To Me, That’s A Knee All Day Long’: Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Felt Referees Missed Penalty Against Senators’ Nick Cousins For Knee Collision With Jacob Quillan

On Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators played a very cut-and-dry game in the latest installment of the Battle of Ontario.

However, there was one play that raised some eyebrows and caused some controversy.

In the first period, Jacob Quillan, making his NHL debut for the Leafs, carried the puck through center ice and dumped it into the Senators’ zone. Moments later, Senators forward Nick Cousins collided with Quillan in a knee-on-knee hit, both players catching each other directly with their left legs.

The collision's aftermath sparked a scrum as Maple Leafs players demonstrated their frustration, feeling the play warranted a penalty. However, the referees decided otherwise, continuing without any call.

“That was a tough hit. I didn't understand how they all missed that,” said head coach Craig Berube post-game. “To me, that's a knee all day long. But he (Quillan) was fine.”

Both Quillan and Cousins were visibly shaken up after the hit.

Cousins left the game shortly afterward, logging only 1:20 of ice time before being ruled out with a lower-body injury. Quillan, however, stayed in the game but was limited to just 5:21 of total ice time.

Berube acknowledged the challenge of the situation, explaining his decision to limit the forward off the ice throughout the remainder of the game.

“He was fine. It is a tough game for him to play,” Berube said. “It got tight, so I didn’t give him a lot down the stretch, but for me, he was fine.”

After the game, Quillan shared his perspective on the incident, taking the high road with a level-headed approach.

“Stuff happens like that,” he said. “Just gotta keep going, nothing you can do. It’s just one of those things that happen and you just gotta move on.”

Related: 'He's A Workhorse': What To Expect From Maple Leafs' Jacob Quillan In NHL Debut Against Senators

Regardless of the outcome, the direct knee-on-knee hit was the result of a scary play. While he managed to continue his debut game, it certainly overshadowed what should have been remembered solely as a memorable milestone for the 22-year-old.

With the 2-1 loss, the Leafs have dropped their second consecutive contest – struggling offensively with just two goals in their last six periods. The club will look to sort out these issues on offense when the Minnesota Wild visit Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.

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