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Maple Leafs burned by no-goal call in season-ending loss to Panthers

Joel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Morgan Rielly and his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates thought they tied up Friday's Game 5 against the Florida Panthers late in the second period, but a play that was ruled no goal on the ice was upheld on review.

Here's a closer look at the play, along with the disappointed reactions from Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas and his staff.

The NHL's situation room said the referee "deemed the play dead" before the puck crossed the line and that the officials made the call in accordance with Rule 78.5 (xii). It states potential goals are to be disallowed when the referee determines play is stopped, even if he hasn't blown the whistle.

Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said postgame he thought the goal was good, according to The Hockey News' Mike Stephens.

The Leafs eventually scored the tying goal, as William Nylander buried one with under five minutes left in the third period. However, the Panthers won the game in overtime on Nick Cousins' tally that ended Toronto's season.

Rielly netted a goal earlier in the second frame to cut the Panthers' lead to 2-1.

The Panthers entered Game 5 leading the best-of-seven series 3-1.

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