Boston Bruins Upset With Officiating in Game 4 Loss to Florida Panthers

The Boston Bruins looked like they were well on their way to tying up their Second Round series against the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They took a commanding 2-0 lead into the first intermission, feeding off the energy of their home crowd.

Unfortunately for the Boston Bruins, the goal by Brandon Carlo 15:12 into the first period was the last time they would score in the game. Their lead was cut in half by Anton Lundell 14:48 into the second period.

In the third period, Sam Bennett scored at 3:41 into the third period on a goal that the Boston Bruins were not happy about. The goal was immediately challenged by the Bruins, who felt that their goalie, Jeremy Swayman, was interfered with.

Replays show that Bennett hit Boston forward Charlie Coyle with a crosscheck, which sent him knocking into Swayman. That left part of the net wide open, which Bennett capitalized on, scoring the tying goal on the power play.

Unfortunately for the Bruins, the play was upheld. As shared by ESPN, “The on-ice officials reviewed the call and determined “there was no goaltender interference on the play.” The official ruling from the NHL Situation Room was that “video review supported the referees’ call on the ice that the shove by Florida’s Sam Bennett on Charlie Coyle and the subsequent contact with Jeremy Swayman did not prevent Swayman from playing his position in the crease prior to Bennett’s goal.”

A two-minute minor penalty for delay of game was assessed to the Bruins for the challenge being unsuccessful. They were able to kill off that penalty, but less than four minutes later, Florida Panthers star Aleksander Barkov scored what ended up being the game-winning goal.

Based on the criteria that are shared in the NHL rulebook, the Boston Bruins are still convinced that the goal by Bennett should have been overturned. It changed the whole momentum of the game, as their lead disappeared.

“My momentum hits him so he can’t get over,” Coyle said. “It’s a huge swing. They score, tie the game and get a power play out of it. We saw something different. They saw something different.”

With Coyle being hit into him, Swayman was consistent in saying that he could not play the puck. As a result, a penalty should have been called.

“The fact is that Coyle was pushed into me. I couldn’t play my position. So that’s that,” he said. “In the moment I didn’t know what exactly happened. I just know I couldn’t play my position. And the review showed that.”

That is a tough break for the Boston Bruins, as refereeing has been a major topic of discussion too often in the Stanley Cup and NBA Playoffs. Players should be determining the outcome of the game, but too often missed calls or incorrect calls play a major part in who comes away victorious.

Now, they will be heading back on the road to the Florida Panthers’ home arena looking to force a Game 6 back in Boston later this week.