I Watched This Game: Canucks Overcome Odd Officiating in Win Over Blue Jackets
Drew O'Connor led the Vancouver Canucks to an important regulation victory with a two-point performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, on Saturday night, the spotlight shifted from the players to the officiating, which proved highly questionable throughout the game.
It may have been one of the most poorly officiated contests the NHL has seen in recent memory, with missed calls going both directions. Though many of the more glaring omissions seemed to disadvantage the Canucks, perspective may influence that impression — fans naturally notice when their own team is fouled.
Missed Calls and Controversial Moments
- Conor Garland was blatantly tripped in the first period — a clear penalty that somehow went uncalled.
- In the second period, Max Sasson took a dangerous hit to the numbers that sent his helmet flying.
- Tyler Myers was elbowed in the back of the head in the third, a startling event considering his height.
The most striking officiating error occurred late in the second period when Quinn Hughes broke loose for a potential breakaway. Ivan Provorov reached out and hooked Hughes, clearly impeding him, but no whistle came from referee Jordan Samuels-Thomas, who had a full view of the play.
“It was like a shot out of a video meant to teach officials what hooking is.”
The Canucks overcame these inconsistencies and still managed to secure the win, showing focus and resilience despite adversity on the ice.
Author’s Summary
In a night marked by controversy, the Canucks outplayed both their opponents and uneven officiating to secure a valuable regulation victory.