Fan tosses fake apple onto the ice; referee pockets it, then offers it to the goalie at a stoppage

The unwelcome visitor on the ice this time was not a puck but a green apple. A fan threw a fake green apple onto the ice toward Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler during the game in Toronto on Saturday, November 7. The referee picked it up, pocketed it, and pulled it out to offer it to him at a stoppage — the night's most delightful moment.

Eight and a half minutes left in the second; the apple landed in front of the goalie

It happened with about 8:30 left in the second period, with Montreal leading 2–0. Fowler said afterwards that he was focused on tracking the puck when he suddenly saw an apple land in front of him: “I'm used to tracking a black puck, not a green apple.” He banged his stick on the ice to alert the referee, and T.J. Luxmore picked up the apple and pocketed it, only pulling it out and holding it up to Fowler after a stoppage following one of his saves.

“It's a tennis ball” — the referee's joke nearly caused a controversy

Fowler said Luxmore first joked that it was a tennis ball; he replied that it looked like an apple, and on closer inspection the referee confirmed it was indeed an apple. Fowler then asked him whether he would have blown the play dead if Toronto had scored during that stretch. Luxmore answered: “Maybe.” Fowler laughed afterwards: “Thank God they didn't score there.” Sportsnet reported that the apple was confirmed to be fake; nobody was hurt and play was not disrupted.

Fowler made 26 saves as Montreal won 4–2

The odd interruption did nothing to throw the 21-year-old rookie off: he made 26 saves as Montreal beat the Maple Leafs 4–2, extending their point streak to 10 games (8-0-2). Alex Newhook scored twice, and Chris Kreider and Zachary Bolduc added one each. The league shared the clip on social media, calling it “an… unusual gift.”