Mike Babcock wins 1st coach's challenge in NHL history
Mike Babcock made history in his first game behind the Toronto Maple Leafs' bench.
During the second period of Wednesday's season opener against the Montreal Canadiens, defenseman Jeff Petry put the visiting club up 2-1 with a shot past Jonathan Bernier.
Although the goal was initially ruled good on the ice, Tomas Plekanec appeared to have interfered with Bernier, leading Babcock to issue the first coach's challenge in league history.
The referee ruled that Plekanec had indeed hit Bernier with his stick, impeding his ability to make the save on Petry's shot. The end result was a no-goal call and a successful challenge by Babcock.
Bernier said one of the game's two referees, Dan O'Rourke or Frederick L'Ecuyer, admitted blowing the call.
Jonathan Bernier says referee approached him after the review & said he was happy instant replay has been expanded bc he missed the call
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 8, 2015
With that, Babcock put himself in the record books in his first regular-season game in Toronto.
Make a note and tell your future grandchildren where you were when the first NHL challenge happened. #TMLtalk
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 8, 2015