Maple Leafs Fans Demand NHL Player Safety Review Elbow To Mitch Marner's Head

During Game 4 between the Panthers and Maple Leafs, forward Mitch Marner received a nasty shot to the head that seemingly went ignored.

It was a brazen display again from the Panthers, who have decided that they can't out muscle the Maple Leafs so they need to injure them instead.

Leave it to Paul Maurice and his squad to take the dirty route and it's just one of several attacks the Panthers have put on the Leafs with no punishment.

It's been pretty unbelievable what they have gotten away with thus far in the second round. Not only did they knock out Anthony Stolarz for the foreseeable future, but have constantly gone too far trying to set the pace.

The fact Marner was not seriously injured on the play is a huge relief, but it's clear as day that Florida's Dimitry Kulikov raised his elbow to knock him in the head.

It's been a testy affair thus far, but it seems that the Maple Leafs are once again getting the short end of the stick. Four penalties in the first, followed by several arguable calls, then these non-calls; the deck is stacked against them.

It almost feels like it would be better if Wes McCauley were reffing the game, considering that he at least would bring some impartiality to the affair.

While it may definitely look biased on the outside, and there's certainly some fandom at play, but how can you argue that Toronto hasn't been put at every disadvantage so far?

Their players are being beaten, elbowed, slashed, and cross checked in the face but the NHL would rather let them suffer, and someone is going to get seriously hurt.

Is that the wake up call the NHL needs? Does a superstar player need to get knocked silly and have his career put at risk for the league to finally pay attention?

It nearly happened to Mitch Marner, and thankfully it didn't. But he won't be the last person targeted by Florida, whether they are on the Maple Leafs or not.

Something needs to change, and it needs to change quickly.