Bruins’ Don Sweeney goes scorched earth on NHL, officiating after controversial Game 4 loss

The Boston Bruins fell down 3-1 in the second round against the Florida Panthers after a 3-2 loss in Game 4 on Sunday, but that did not come without controversy, as the Bruins challenged Sam Bennett’s tying goal, in which is looked like he pushed Charlie Coyle into goaltender Jeremy Swayman, but the call was upheld. Bruins general manager Don Sweeney did not hold back, wondering why NHL officials did not have to answer questions regarding the ruling while his team’s players and coaches did.

“The overall premise I have, to be perfectly honest with you, is we should not be asking the coach after the game what they feel about the officiating and what happens,” Don Sweeney said, via Fluto Shinzawa. “You guys should really be focused on what we didn’t do well enough in the course of the game to win a hockey game. Those questions should either be directed at either the supervisor of officials, supervisor of the series and/or the officials. … You want full access and transparency? Then put the officials in front of the microphone to answer the question. They’re the only ones that have the experience to be able to handle whatever interpretation they applied to Rule 69.”

After the game, referees Frederick L’Ecuyer and Francis Charron were not available for comment, and the same goes for Kay Whitmore, the NHL’s series of officials, and NHL director of officiating Stephen Walkom, according to Shinzawa.

The NHL released a statement regarding Bennett’s tying goal. The ruling was that the shove by Bennett on Coyle did not prevent Swayman from playing his position prior to the goal being scored.

Bruins upset over multiple issues in series vs Panthers

Sweeney was also not happy about the handling of Bennett’s sucker-punch of Brad Marchand in Game 3, which led to the Bruins star being unavailable for Game 4 due to an upper-body injury. Sweeney was critical of the Department of Player Safety.

“The Department of Player Safety needs to make a statement on how they interpret that situation,” Sweeney said, via Shinzaway. “We’ve seen every angle you can possibly imagine. No different than when Brad himself has been called to the carpet and comparables are looked at. That’s their job, their responsibility to protect the players. We have to respect that, whatever their judgment is.”

The series will shift back to Florida for Game 5, as the Bruins will look to start a 3-1 series comeback. They will try to do what the Panthers did to them last year in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This time, it will be the Bruins who will try to pull off the upset, regardless of Marchand’s ability to play in Game 5 or not. Now is win or go home.