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Joel Quenneville: “The refereeing tonight was a disgrace”

Phoenix Coyotes v Chicago Blackhawks - Game Three

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 17: Head coach Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks tries to get referees to stop play after an injury to Marian Hossa of the Blackhawks against the Phoenix Coyotes in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on April 17, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Raffi Torres’ brutal and illegal hit on Marian Hossa infuriated the Chicago Blackhawks thanks to the play not even being penalized. While Hossa was sent to the hospital, Torres was allowed to play on the rest of the night, something Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville did not appreciate in the least.

Following Chicago’s 3-2 overtime loss, Quenneville ripped into the referees of last night’s game, Stephen Walkom and Ian Walsh, for finding a way to blow what should’ve been one of the easiest calls of the postseason. Tracey Myers of CSNChicago.com has the details.

“It was a brutal hit,” Quenneville said. “You can have a multiple choice question it’s ‘All the Above.’”

Quenneville said the Hossa play happened right in front of him in the first period.

“I had a hard time. I saw exactly what happened,” he said. “How four guys missed it tonight, it was hard. The refereeing tonight was a disgrace.”

Walkom and Walsh missing the call is just yet another example of how poor the officials work has been on the ice during the playoffs. Quenneville isn’t the first coach to complain about the referees during the playoffs and at this rate he won’t be the last.

What’s disturbing here is Walkom and Walsh have had complaints against them already in the postseason. Walkom and Walsh worked Game 2 of the Rangers-Senators series that saw things get wildly out of control throughout the game. Now with missing Torres’ illegal hit on Hossa, it’s another mark against him.

In case you’ve forgotten, Walkom is the former NHL head of officiating who resigned from that position to get back on the ice.