Was the Toronto Maple Leafs' decision to skip their traditional salute Thursday evening a pointed snub at their frustrated fans?

After most home game wins, the team skates to centre ice and raises their sticks in the air to salute the crowd, but Thursday night, the boys in blue left the ice with no acknowledgement to fans.

The move follows three losses in a row, and then a win at home when the Leafs beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 on Thursday night.

Coach didn't know?

TSN's Darren Dreger reported that it was a decision made by players, not the coaching staff, and was an attempt to change things up after a losing streak.

Despite the team's claims that the switch-up was an effort to put an end to bad karma, many thought it was a response to recent protests by fans frustrated by a series of losses.

In the last month, fans have booed players off the ice and thrown jerseys on to the rink to show their annoyance with the team.

Fans shared mixed reactions on social media, suggesting that the gesture by the team was directed at the often unhappy crowd: