Eric Engels reveals the NHL rule referees got wrong against the Canadiens in Game 2 vs Sabres
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Eric Engels has just revealed that the referees got a specific NHL rule wrong against the Canadiens last night at KeyBank Center.
The Sportsnet journalist shared his analysis on social media after Game 2 between the Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres.
And the situation explains why Martin St-Louis completely lost his patience during the game.
“Veleno did not play the puck there until the Habs completed the change. That’s why Martin St. Louis was furious with that too-many-men call. In any case, Sabres going to PP.”
– Eric Engels
This is the kind of officiating mistake that could have cost the Canadiens dearly in such an important game.
Joe Veleno was fully respecting the rule when the referee called too many men on the ice
Joe Veleno did not touch the puck while his teammates were completing their line change.
That is exactly the rule the NHL applies in this type of situation.
As long as the new player does not touch the puck while another player is leaving the ice, there is no too-many-men penalty.
But the referee still called the penalty against the Canadiens.
This is exactly the kind of mistake that can cost a team a playoff game.
And St-Louis completely lost patience with the situation in the moment.
The Sabres received a power play because of the officiating error.
But the incident once again raises questions about the quality of officiating in this second round.
The Canadiens had already been the victims of several controversial decisions in the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The questionable penalty against Ivan Demidov in Game 6. The missed interference call on Kirby Dach seconds before the game-winning goal. And the list goes on!
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Eric Engels reveals the NHL rule referees got wrong against the Canadiens in Game 2 vs Sabres
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