He probably knew it was coming, but Bruce Cassidy has been fined $25,000 for his comments Monday night criticizing the officials. The Boston Bruins head coach was clear that he thought they are normally good referees, but called them out on their different treatment of his team and the New York Islanders.
"We’re playing a team that has a very respected management and coaching staff, they won a Stanley Cup. But I think they sell a narrative over there that it’s more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders. They play hard, they play the right way but I feel we’re the same way. The same calls, the exact calls that are being called on us do not get called on them and I don’t know why. These are very good officials…
"…they just need to be better than that. Just call the game that you see, quit listening to these outside influences and get it done right. I don’t think they were great tonight I’m not going to lie to you. But they have been, they’re good officials. I know those two guys, they’re good guys, good officials. Tonight I just thought they were off, but you could say the same about us."
The fine will go to the NHL Foundation.
Cassidy is obviously frustrated with the way the series is going for the Bruins, who weren’t able to come back against the Islanders Monday night despite drastically outshooting them. New York was able to score on three different power plays in the first two periods while taking only two penalties of their own the entire game. Boston outshot the Islanders 44-19, but went down 5-4 and are now on the brink of elimination in their second-round series.
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