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Panthers’ coach Dineen rips officials after loss to Penguins

Florida Panthers v Winnipeg Jets

WINNIPEG, MB - FEBRUARY 5: Kevin Dineen, head coach of the Florida Panthers, rubs his head as Drew Shore #50, Shawn Matthias #18 and Jonathan Huberdeau #11 look on from the bench during a game against the Winnipeg Jets on February 5, 2013 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Marianne Helm/Getty Images)

Marianne Helm

Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen apparently didn’t like the officiating in Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he let his feelings known.

Dineen ripped into the officials, particularly when it came to the Penguins’ second goal - off the stick of defenseman Matt Niskanen - in the early stages of the third period. Here’s a quick timeline of events: Panthers winger Tomas Kopecky was called for slashing Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Shortly after the ensuing power play ended, Niskanen scored to give Pittsburgh its first lead of the hockey game.

The Penguins went on to win 3-1.

According to Miami Herald sports report George Richards, Dineen was upset because earlier in the game Penguins’ forward Chris Kunitz escaped the wrath of the officials for whacking Florida goalie Jacob Markstrom, yet Kopecky was called for a similar infraction, leading to the winning goal.

“It’s frustrating, certainly when the game was decided on the tempo and that penalty was big at the end,’' Dineen told the Miami Herald, “especially since there was a non-call for us when a guy attacks Gudbranson after a clean hit. And then they score a goal when they whack at our goalie three times.

“Our guy goes down and he doesn’t blow the whistle. It’s a tough one to take, but that’s the nature of it. You have to understand where your place is and just go out and play the game.’'