Fans Accuse Refs of Rigging Last Night's Cup Final Determining Game

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Dylan Robillard
May 25, 2023 (5:18 PM)

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The Florida Panthers are the Eastern Conference Final Champions and will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Thanks to Matthew Tkachuk, scoring on a controversial goal to push the Panthers into the Stanley Cup Final.

Why controversial? The NHL doesn't know when and when not to go call goalie interference. The league should bring back the rule where a player isn't allowed to be in the crease when a goal is scored like box lacrosse, because these goalie interference calls are making or breaking teams seasons.

All playoffs long the refs have been poor for any team, and have costed a lot of teams their seasons. Tonight was a great example, as the Panthers got a way with a lot of calls or had calls go their way.

On this ensuing play, Staal, barely taps the Panthers player on the ankle resulting in him falling. Now whether this is a trip or not, you don't make that call; Especially in a tied playoff game with under a minute left. You let both teams play through. Unless a major penalty is to happen or a brutally obvious call is to be made.

This penalty gave the Panthers a late power play, resulting in them being able to control the pace of play and ultimately score the series winner. Without that penalty the game is a complete different and may have a different outcome.

Here is another example of the refs picking and choosing what to call. If you call the Staal trip, this has to be called too. It was a high cross-check almost at the nameplate, yet it went uncalled. Moments later Staal was sent to the penalty box for a trip.

On to my next point, the game winning goal. After handing the Panthers a gift of a power play chance, why not just hand them the win? Now this is why I bring up the player in the crease rule, because it's so inconsistent and basically a 50/50 of which way calls will go.
On this play, Frederik Andersen is clearly interfered with, the Panthers' player stick goes underneath Andersen's pad and between his legs. Preventing the Hurricanes' goaltender to slide over and stop Matthew Tkachuk's shot. Aswell the Panther player foot was in the crease, Andersen was clearly in his net and there was contact between the two.

This isn't the first time the refs and NHL have ended a series on a controversy goal. What's even crazier, this isn't even the first time it's happened for the Panthers. the Florida Panthers have won two tied game which were a series decider off an interference review.

I can't believe at how honest I have been writing this, but the refs and league are doing a very poor job in these playoffs. After being called out a number of times, bad calls are continuing to be called. Even all season long, the reviews for goals has been brutal all year and continued into the postseason. A lot of fans, me included. Are fed up with it and frankly it is becoming a joke.