The Boston Bruins lost Game 2 of their playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night to tie things at 1-1, and they feel they were on the wrong side of some calls that had a big impact on the game.
After defenseman Torey Krug scored to cut Tampa’s lead to 3-2 with just under four minutes remaining in the game, Brad Marchand had a chance to tie things with a late breakaway. He was unable to convert, as he lost the puck on what appeared to be a slash from Anton Stralman.
If you’re not going to call this you shouldn’t be allowed to have a job pic.twitter.com/8BsJE4EHRy
— DL (@davelozo) May 1, 2018
The NHL has placed a greater emphasis on calling slashes like that this season, but the Bruins didn’t get the whistle when they needed it. According to Marchand, the play should have resulted in a penalty shot, let alone a power play.
“That’s the kind of play that they called earlier in the game. They called that all year — a slash up around the hands, I mean, that’s automatic,” he told reporters, per Jim McBride of the Boston Globe. “It’s a penalty shot let alone a penalty. So, tough one there, but I mean, we had some chances on the power play and we have to capitalize.”
As Marchand mentioned, Krug was called for a slash in the first period that led to the Lightning taking a 1-0 lead on a power play goal. The slash from Stralman was worse, and Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said it was the most egregious of several calls that didn’t go Boston’s way.
“Obviously, he slashed him right on the hands,” said Cassidy. “I just think it’s unacceptable to miss that call — it’s a hit on the hands. It’s one thing if it’s a judgment call on the stick but on the hands is usually automatic. So that was disappointing.”
The referee could have just missed it, or perhaps he was more hesitant to make that call at such a crucial point in the game. It’s also possible that Marchand’s reputation for being an agitator results in him getting less calls. Either way, it’s a call that probably should have been made if the NHL wants its officials to be consistent.
