Ah, the old debate between calling penalties in the big stages versus “letting them play.”
It’s possible that no one was happy during the first overtime of Wednesday’s thrilling Game 1 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators, as two officiating calls went back-to-back to furrow many brows.
Some might argue that the Blackhawks were “owed a call” after Brad Richards was whistled for high-sticking. Maybe officials swallowed their whistles when Duncan Keith broke up a breakaway attempt through what may not have been legal techniques.
That was controversial enough, but the crowd really turned on the officials when Seth Jones received a two-minute minor for what seemed like a trivial tripping infraction ... depending upon who you ask.
Obviously, no one scored on the two power plays in the overtime period, which probably left the officials breathing a sigh of relief (however they feel about those calls).