Oilers Insider Personally Calls Out Referee For Unhinged Reaction on Darnell Nurse
Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse was given an unsportsmanlike penalty in the Oilers' last game against the Florida Panthers, and Insider Bob Stauffer called out the ref for his decision and reaction.
The Oilers game against the Panthers was filled with some questionable calls, including one kicking motion goal from Matthew Tkachuk.
Stauffer qualified that it's useless to complain about officiating, but still pointed out referee Kelly Sutherland by name for the unsportsmanlike penalty against Darnell Nurse, and his over the top reaction to it.
While Nurse did probably say something to warrant an unsportsmanlike penalty, the ref needs to uphold the professionalism and doesn't need to dunk on the player with an over the top call.
More than that, Stauffer says that Nurse has a right to complain about the call, and the ref should take it.
Bob Stauffer Calls Out Referee For «Demonstrative» Reaction to Penalty
In today's NHL, there's been an erosion of respect between players and referees, and it causes problems like this.
When players and coaches start cursing at referees in games, the refs do fire back and it creates an environment where refs actually can be emotionally charged into making a penalty call, like unsportsmanlike.
Coach Knoblauch rightfully called out Darnell Nurse for the play, saying that it's never productive to curse and criticize the refs.
It's just you're more likely just upsetting the referee who are more likely to call penalty later on the game. No matter who you are, yelling at the referees. doesn't help you at all."
- Coach Knoblauch
The Oilers have usually been good with not picking fights with referees in recent years, but in a charged game against the Panthers, things do come to a boil.
Unfortunately the Oilers dropped the big test to Florida, but have a new opportunity on home ice tonight against the Boston Bruins.
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