Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason was vocally displeased with the officiating during his club's 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
Evason was particularly peeved by a missed call on Nick Suzuki moments before the Canadiens captain scored the OT winner.
Suzuki appeared to grab Kent Johnson's hip with his open hand and haul him down, but no penalty was called by referees Michael Sullivan and Brian Pochmara. With Johnson trailing behind the play, Montreal took full advantage of the three-on-two the other way and ended the game.
THE CAPTAIN CALLS GAME. 🤩
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 28, 2024
Nick Suzuki buries the @SUBWAYCanada OT winner for Montreal! pic.twitter.com/YzFhfLRhwW
"You mean at the end when they didn't call the penalty, when the guy (Suzuki) grabbed (Johnson's) hip and pulled him back and then that guy went down and scored?" Evason said, per The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "It's ridiculous! You know what? It's a human game, and I'd hope that we'd have a couple of the refs (available) - or at least one of them - to ask them what they see?"
NHL officials aren't required to speak to teams or media postgame.
"We have a two-on-one (with Johnson and Sean Monahan). KJ is fresh. He's fresh on the ice. He's got a step on Suzuki. He's going and he's fast, and the guy reaches in, grabs him, pulls his hip, spins him, (Johnson) falls down, (the Canadiens) get the puck, they get a three-on-two (the other way) … it's crazy," Evason said.
"That can't be not a penalty. It makes no sense. I don't care if it's the first (period) or overtime, you cannot reach your hand in and grab a guy. Even if they're even, but (KJ) is ahead of him."
The defeat put an end to Columbus' three-game winning streak.
