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Toronto Maple Leafs announcer Joe Bowen was totally distracted during Matthews' winning goal

Adam Laskaris
Adam Laskaris
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May 17 2025, 9:00 am
Toronto Maple Leafs announcer Joe Bowen was totally distracted during Matthews' winning goal
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images

When the Toronto Maple Leafs needed him most, Auston Matthews finally stepped up to the occasion.

Heading into Friday night’s Game 6 against the Florida Panthers and needing a win to extend their season, Toronto’s biggest star had come under fire from just about every angle.

The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner as the NHL’s leading scorer entered his 12th game of the playoffs with just two goals, both of which had come against the Ottawa Senators back in the first round.

But with the score tied 0-0 midway through the third period, Matthews took a pass from Mitch Marner after he forced a turnover and slotted home the eventual game-winning goal.

Leafs fans everywhere were going bonkers, including at the official watch parties inside and outside of Scotiabank Arena.

But one person who took a few seconds to react to the goal was one of the names longest associated with the team: radio play-by-play announcer Joe Bowen, who was calling the game remotely back in Toronto.

Bowen appeared caught off guard by the whole ordeal, not really realizing that the puck had went in — or perhaps that the Leafs even had possession of the puck — when he made the call.

“Forsling starts back… Jean Hebert and Graham Rank the referees… A shot, scores! Holy Mackinaw! How did that happen? Off the rush!” Bowen said.

Colour analyst Jim Ralph then gave a breakdown of the play, before Bowen seemed to have a twinge of regret that it wasn’t exactly his best goal call.

“Get a big goal, would be nice to be able to call it and I’m staring at something else,” Bowen grumbled.

It wasn’t clear if Bowen was more upset at the remote feed or the fact he was talking about referees during the biggest goal of the night.

Bowen had posted earlier in the game that his audio and video feeds were mistimed, with the quick camera cut possibly also impacting the call.

Not to be down for too long, Bowen was in electric spirits as the clock ticked down in the final moments of the game.

And some good news for Bowen, he’ll be in the building with Ralph on Sunday, when the Leafs host Game 7 back in Toronto.

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