Controversial no-call leads to Coach’s outburst
Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde’s expletive-filled rant was the talk of the town following a chaotic NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night. The outburst came after a controversial no-call by the referees on a play involving Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic and Penguins forward Jason Zucker.
The play in question saw Zucker shove his stick into Nedeljkovic’s pads as he tried to pry the puck into the net. The officials reviewed the play to determine whether the puck had fully crossed the line for a goal or not, and Lalonde wanted a coach’s challenge to see if goalie interference occurred.
However, the referees concluded that there was no goalie interference which led to Lalonde’s outburst and his eventual game misconduct and ejection. Despite Lalonde’s outburst, the Red Wings defeated the Penguins 7-4, with former Penguins forward David Perron recording a hat trick, including the winning goal.
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Wildcard Hopes Diminish
The loss against Detroit hurt the Pittsburgh Penguins’ chances at securing one of two wildcard positions in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins view the final stages of the regular season as their playoffs just to qualify for the actual playoffs.
Penguins backup goaltender Casey DeSmith, starting his fourth consecutive game, saw his record fall to 14-16-4 as he made 18 saves on 24 shots. The team allowed at least one opposing power-play goal for six consecutive games.
Despite forward Sidney Crosby stating that their urgency had been present for a bit now, the team could not hold off Detroit who towered over them from an unachievable high position of 3-0 that they earned in just 20 minutes.
Red Wings’ Victory Surprises Associate Coach
Bob Boughner, the Red Wings’ associate coach, expressed surprise at their victory against the Penguins. The Wings won for only the fourth time in the last 16 games, but not without a valiant effort from David Perron scoring two late goals.
Derek Lalonde, however, was not present to see the win since he was ejected for arguing goalie interference. Bryan Rust’s goal for Pittsburgh may have involved goalie interference, but the officials disagreed.
Perron’s timely hat trick was crucial for the Wings, considering his recent offensive slump. Jonatan Berggren, Andrew Copp, and Dominik Kubalik also had first-period goals that secured a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Captain Larkin believes games like these are meaningful for their young team’s development as they fight to push for a playoff spot. Alex Nedeljkovic made some great puck plays under pressure which helped the defense clear a few on his penalty kills himself.
Possible League Fine for Head Coach Lalonde
Lalonde may face a fine from the league for his outburst during the game. His ejection and misconduct have raised questions about how coaches approach referee decisions during games.
The NHL has strict guidelines on player and coach behavior during games with specific rules about criticizing or disputing referees’ calls. The league may take action against Lalonde or other coaches who cross the line.
In conclusion, despite Lalonde’s outburst and Pittsburgh’s wildcard hopes diminishing, Detroit Red Wings surprised everyone by winning convincingly against an intense Penguins team. Perron’s hat trick sealed their fate while Lalonde may face disciplinary action for his actions during the game.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
