Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Maple Leafs React to Pre-Game Announcement Blunder

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Devon A. Platana | Last updated Dec 3, 2024 2:25 AM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs fans were left confused before the referees dropped the puck for Monday's meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks.

As the pre-game lineup announcements were being made, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was announced as the starter center between Nicholas Robertson and Steven Lorentz. Instead of Matthews being on the ice for the national anthems, though, fans saw Fraser Minten lined up between the veteran wingers.

The confusion quickly dissipated after the anthems finished when Matthews took Minten's spot on the ice for the opening faceoff. Still, that didn't stop Maple Leafs fans from wondering what went wrong.

Fortunately, the curious fanbase got the answers they were looking for after Toronto picked up a 4-1 victory over Chicago at Scotiabank Arena.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told TSN's Mark Masters that even he was caught off guard by hearing Matthews' name announced. He planned to open the game with Minten lining up down the middle, however, technology had other plans.

"These computers screw everything up," Berube said. "We used to write (starting lineups) out on paper. I'd rather do that."

Leafs planned to start game with Minten at centre

Matthews got announced pre-game in arena

Berube: "I was like, 'What?'"

So, Auston started just to be safe

"These computers screw everything up," coach says to laughs. "We used to write'em out on paper. I'd rather do that."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 3, 2024

Like Berube, Matthews was also surprised that he was announced for the opening line. Although the 27-year-old sniper didn't initially plan to take the ice, the team agreed that it was better to be safe than sorry to avoid any potential penalties.

"They announced my name, but I wasn't told I was starting," Matthews said, per Masters. "I think it happened like a week ago where a team got a penalty for something like that, so just to be safe... I went out there and started."

Matthews is referring to an incident on Nov. 20 when the Nashville Predators were penalized for the wrong starting lineup. According to The Hockey News' Jonathan Tovell, the Predators were hit with a two-minute bench minor penalty because they started Filip Forsberg when Steven Stamkos was expected to open the game.

Opening the game shorthanded is always less than ideal, meaning the Maple Leafs should be relieved that they got Matthews on the ice and avoided the worst-case scenario this time.

After Monday's pre-game mix-up, both Matthews and Minten went on to play important roles in their team's latest victory.

Matthews led by example by opening the scoring with his first goal in exactly one month, while Minten restored the Maple Leafs' two-goal lead in the third period with his second goal of the campaign, coming just coming just 21 seconds after the Blackhawks cut the lead to one.

The Maple Leafs will hope for a drama-free pre-game announcement when the Nashville Predators visit Scotiabank Arena for Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. ET showdown.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: