It's hard to believe that we're just past the quarter-pole in the NHL season and we haven't had a "kicking motion" controversy yet. It's also possible I'm the only one who finds that strange.

We narrowly avoided one tonight in Toronto. The Maple Leafs scored midway through the third period against Ottawa when Dion Phaneuf's pass apparently deflected off of Tyler Bozak's skate and slipped past an outstretched Craig Anderson.

But upon video review, it certainly looked like Bozak made a slight kicking motion toward net as he watched the approaching pass. It was just slight enough, however, that you could make the case he was just angling his skate for an effective deflection.

Apparently that was the conclusion the bigwigs in the Toronto video room came to, and Bozak's goal was allowed to stand. It turned out to be the final dagger for the Senators, who eventually lost 3-0.