File this under the header ‘Too Little, Too Late’. The NHL formally apologized to the Vegas Golden Knights for the referees ruling Cody Eakin’s cross-check on Joe Pavelski a major penalty in Game 7. San Jose slotted in four goals on the subsequent power play and turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead after the five minutes was up. The apology won’t do much to assuage the feelings of Vegas fans, but at least the NHL acknowledged the error.
“The league did reach out and apologize,” @GoldenKnights' George McPhee said Thursday. “They made a mistake and I’m sure (the officials) feel bad about it. They want to get things right like we all do when we’re doing our jobs" #VegasBorn https://t.co/aojAxeiJgS
— Las Vegas Review-Journal (@reviewjournal) April 25, 2019
The referees working that Game 7 have been punished by the NHL. They haven’t been fined or suspended per se, but they will not be working the conference semifinals. One of those officials, Dan O’Halloran, has officiated more playoff games than any other referee, so at least it’s a little bit of a punishment.
It's not really the playoffs until there's a Brad Marchand controversy: https://t.co/2IgBZKXHw3 pic.twitter.com/K9EeN0FrMT
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) April 26, 2019
As for the action on the ice, Boston beat Columbus 3-2 in overtime in Game 1 of the conference semifinals. Brad Marchand was his usual annoying self, both on and off the ice, and he made sure to get in a jab at former teammate Rick Nash after the game was over.
The St. Louis Blues beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 Thursday night in first game of the teams' Western Conference semifinal series. https://t.co/ztjNXMbOp0 pic.twitter.com/SfXvhelvWD
— CBS News Texas (@CBSNewsTexas) April 26, 2019
In Game 1 of the other conference semifinal that started on Thursday, the St. Louis Blues beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 behind two goals from Vladimir Tarasenko. St. Louis has still never won a Stanley Cup, and it’s been nearly 50 years since the Blues last played for it all.
Sharks’ Joe Pavelski, Joonas Donskoi out for Game 1 vs. Avalanche https://t.co/f6FtG4aXjB
— Mercury News (@mercnews) April 26, 2019
San Jose has said that Joe Pavelski will not play tonight after his awkward fall following Eakin’s hit in Game 7. It seemed unlikely that Pavelski would play since the fall and subsequent head injury looked pretty bad, but the Sharks confirmed it.
Top Stories
- NHL apologizes to Vegas for major penalty call | ESPN
- Knights-Sharks refs won’t officiate in 2nd round | ESPN
- Marchand takes jab at ex-teammate Nash | TSN
- Hot start for Blues and Tarasenko in Game 1 win over Stars | St. Louis Post Dispatch
- Sharks’ Joe Pavelski, Joonas Donskoi out for Game 1 vs. Avalanche | San Jose Mercury News
