Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney wants the media to be able to ask the league and the officials themselves about controversial calls after a game.
That demand for more transparency came on Monday with his team down 3-1 to the Florida Panthers with no shortage of debatable calls — or non-calls, if you prefer — in their second-round playoff series.
“We’re not in a position to be criticizing the officials. That’s standard protocol. We’ll get fined as a result of that, so there’s no intention on my point to be critical,” Sweeney said to an assembled media on Monday. “Those questions should be directed either at the director or supervisor of officials, supervisor series, and/or the officials. You want full access and transparency? Then put the officials in front of the microphone. …
“Don’t put out a statement. Just stand in front and answer the question.”
Sweeney was responding to a question about why a Panthers goal by Sam Bennett was allowed to stand in Game 4. Bennett shoved Boston’s Charlie Coyle into goalie Jeremy Swayman beforehand, giving him free rein to deposit the puck in the net. The Bruins asked for a review, but the goal stood.
Unlike in the NFL and NBA, the NHL does not have its officials explain calls after games.
“A player, a coach, you ask them about critical plays, good or bad,” Sweeney said. “The people making decisions should explain them. It’s as simple as that.”
The original controversy in this series, however, stems from a hit that Bennett laid on Brad Marchand in Game 3, one that knocked the Bruins captain out of the game in the first period and out of the lineup for Game 4.
While initial views of the interaction made it look just like that — a hit — another angle that has subsequently emerged shows what appears to be Bennett punching Marchand in the head upon contact.
“The Department of Player Safety needs to make the statement how they interpret that situation (Bennett/Marchand),” said Sweeney. “We’ve seen every angle you could possibly imagine.”
No penalty was called on the play that knocked Marchand out and no supplemental discipline either.
Sweeney said his captain’s status was day-to-day and that he would travel with the team to Florida for Game 5, hopeful to be able to play.
