The Minnesota Wild are on the brink of elimination after losing to the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3, but they feel as though the referees are partly to blame.
The Wild were on a power play late in the first period of the game and while Eric Staal was standing in the slot, Josh Morrissey delivered a cross-check to his head, knocking him down and totally avoiding any penalty. According to Darren Dreger, the league will look into the play today to decide if it needs any supplemental discipline, but that’s not what the Wild are looking for.
Apparently the ref even apologized about missing the call in the game, but Staal explained why that conversation was so frustrating.
The Jets then scored right before the end of the first period and Minnesota was never able to put one past Connor Hellebuyck.
It’s a tough break for Minnesota, but you’re never going to get much sympathy from fans when you lose by two and fail to score a single goal in the game. Of course there is always the thought that a single goal could change how the game is played, but Winnipeg has been the better team so far.
Perhaps Patrik Laine can play them another song on his violin for their troubles.