Bruins GM wants NHL, refs to answer questions on controversial calls originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins have been on the wrong end of a couple questionable calls in their Eastern Conference second-round series versus the Florida Panthers.
Panthers forward Sam Bennett appeared to punch Brad Marchand in the head during the first period of Game 3, but he escaped a penalty. He also wasn’t fined or suspended by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
Bennett also was involved in a controversial call in Game 4 when he cross-checked Bruins center Charlie Coyle into goaltender Jeremy Swayman, thus preventing him from being able to make a save. Bennett pounced on the loose puck and scored to tie the game at 2-2 in the third period. The Bruins challenged the play for goalie interference but lost.
In its explanation of the ruling, the league said: “Video review supported the referees’ call on the ice that that the shove by Florida’s Sam Bennett on Charlie Coyle and the subsequent contact with Jeremy Swayman did not prevent Swayman from playing his position in the crease prior to Bennett’s goal.”
The Panthers ultimately won 3-2 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney held a press conference Monday before the team departed for Florida ahead of Tuesday night’s Game 5. He wasn’t super critical of the league or the officials, but he does want those parties to stand in front of a microphone and answer the questions when appropriate.
“The overall premise that I have, to be perfectly honest with you, is we should not be asking the coach after the game what they feel about the officiating and what happens,” Sweeney said. “You guys should really be focused on what we didn’t do well over the course of the game to win a hockey game.
“Those questions should be directed at either the supervisor of officials, the supervisor of the series, and/or the officials. If you want full access and transparency, then put the officials in front of the microphone to answer the question. They’re the only ones who have the experience to be able to handle whatever interpretation they applied to Rule 69 in that case. That’s it.
“Clearly we challenged it because of our interpretation. The only ones who can answer that — don’t put out a statement, just stand in front and answer the question.”
For starters, there’s no reason why a coach shouldn’t be asked about the officiating after a game, especially when the coach makes the decision to…