Former 1st Overall Pick Calls Out Referees For Biased Calls
PUBLICATION
James Connelly
December 24, 2023 (3:06 PM)
Photo credit: Las Vegas Review-Journal
In a recent clash between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers, a highly disputed referee decision led to the ejection of Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson during the second period.
Johnson Calls Out Referees For Biased Called
The incident unfolded when Johnson engaged in a physical altercation with Rangers forward Willie Cuylle, who had previously delivered a hit to one of Johnson's teammates. Despite Cuylle showing a willingness to engage in the fight, Johnson was penalized with an additional two minutes for instigating.
While Johnson expressed his frustration over the extra penalty, claiming it was unjust, he was ultimately ejected from the game.
The Rangers failed to capitalize on the powerplay resulting from the fight, but the game's officiating raised eyebrows as the Rangers enjoyed four powerplays compared to the Sabres' one throughout the match.
Johnson Exposes The Refs In Post-Game Interview
In the aftermath of the game, Erik Johnson shed light on the questionable decision, asserting that it was linked to an earlier complaint he made about a missed call. The referees, seemingly retaliating, imposed the additional instigator penalty as punishment.
"I don't know if there's a gray area with the instigator or what have you, but that's not an instigator. That's two willing combatants that both accept a fight after what I thought was a hit on my partner, a young player in a vulnerable spot, and he needed to answer the bell for that. I thought it was ridiculous. I'd like to say more, even if I get fined. I really don't care. I thought it was BS." - Erik Johnson
Erik Johnson was still upset when I spoke to him after the OT loss.
According to Johnson, the ref told the Sabres' bench that he was given the instigator penalty because they were complaining too much in the first period.
The incident has sparked speculation among fans about the possibility of an investigation into the actions of the referees. However, as of now, there is no official word on whether any punitive measures will be taken against them.
Stay tuned for more updates as the situation develops.
| POLL |
24 DECEMBRE | 100 ANSWERS Former 1st Overall Pick Calls Out Referees For Biased Calls Should these refs be investigated? |
| Yes | 92 | 92 % |
| No | 8 | 8 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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