Wes McCauley's presence and calls on the ice have consistently grabbed attention and courted controversy throughout this year's playoffs. Unfortunately for him, his reputation for questionable decisions has only grown with each passing round. McCauley's officiating has faced criticism due to highly debatable calls made during critical playoff moments.
In the most recent game, McCauley found himself once again at the center of controversy. During the second period, he allowed Mark Stone to escape punishment for an apparent slash, only to promptly raise his arm and call a soft tripping penalty against Marc Staal, a move that appeared to favor Stone.
The questionable call did not sit well with a disgruntled fan in attendance, who resorted to expressing their disappointment by throwing a rubber rat in McCauley's direction as a symbolic gesture of dissatisfaction.
The incident quickly gained attention, with one social media observer commenting, "Wes McCauley calls a trip on Marc Staal and somebody threw a plastic rat the ref's way. Not very nice."
