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Phaneuf: I take responsibility for OT losing goal

Dion Phaneuf

Dion Phaneuf #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads to the penalty box against theBoston Bruins in the first period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 4, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (May 3, 2013 - Source: Jim Rogash/Getty Images North America)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are down 3-1 in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins after David Krejci scored the deciding goal tonight after 13:06 minutes of overtime.

Krejci deserves a lot of credit for his efforts in this game, but the play started when Toronto’s Dion Phaneuf attempted to level Nathan Horton in the Leafs’ zone, but largely appeared to hit Horton’s stick instead. Phaneuf temporarily lost his balance and disrupted his own teammates’ ability to follow the play as he tried to remain upright.

That allowed Krejci to drive all the way to Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer without major resistance.

You can watch the play below:

“It’s a bad mistake, and a bad time to make it,” Phaneuf admitted, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon. “I take responsibility for it. And it’s unacceptable.”

Phaneuf led the Maple Leafs in playing time (31:14 minutes), hits (10), and blocked shots (six). He also finished with a minus-two rating.