Sheldon Keefe refuses to explain source of his ejection

Not only did the Toronto Maple Leafs lose their game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday evening, but head coach Sheldon Keefe was unceremoniously tossed from the game with just minutes left in regulation. 

Late in the third period, the on-ice officials were apparently displeased with whatever Keefe was saying to them, and sent him back to the dressing room for the remainder of what was a 6-2 victory for Vegas at Scotiabank Arena.

However, in his postgame comments, he refused to elaborate on exactly what it was that got him ejected.

“Not going there, not going there,” he answered when pressed.

Keefe was clearly displeased with a tripping penalty that was assessed to Mitch Marner with less than five minutes left in regulation, spoiling any chance of a Leafs comeback. 

“The whole arena saw it on the Jumbotron,” Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi said of the replay. “(Marner) didn’t touch him and (Stephenson) kind of just toe-picked on his own.”

“We’ve got momentum on our side,” Keefe added. “That’s a tough spot in the game.”

“Power plays are four to one in the game — that’s a factor,” Keefe continued. “That’s not on the officials. That’s part of the way the game goes.”

The Leafs will have a chance to defeat the Arizona Coyotes for the second time this month when they bring them in to downtown Toronto on Thursday evening. 

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