“Truly the worst officiating in the 4 major sports” – NHL Fans BLASTS Referees for Embellishment Call on Evan Rodrigues During Maple Leafs-Panthers Game 2

The NHL officials have once again found themselves in hot water after an embellishment call on Evan Rodrigues during Game 2.

“Truly the worst officiating in the 4 major sports” – NHL Fans BLASTS Referees for Embellishment Call on Evan Rodrigues During Maple Leafs-Panthers Game 2

Evan Rodrigues (Image via NHL/X/@GinoHard_)

The NHL officials are once again facing the wrath of the fans on social media. During Game 2 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers, they assessed Evan Rodrigues for embellishment after he suffered a huge hit from behind by Scott Laughton.

The series between the Maple Leafs and the Panthers is proving to be a highly physical one. Game 1 of the series saw a total of 75 hits, with 51 of them being from the Panthers. Game 2 saw 80 hits from both teams.

However, the biggest hit from this game came during the 2nd period of the game. With the scores leveled at 2-2, Laughton would come from behind and hit Rodrigues. The Panthers’ star would go crashing into the boards and stay down on the ice.

In spite of a boarding penalty, the referees gave an embellishment penalty to Rodrigues. This penalty is given to a player who “dives or embellishes, in order to draw a penalty.” The officials deemed Rodrigues to dive and fake the injury to draw a penalty. Check out a video regarding this incident below:

Following the hit from Laughton, Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt would jump him and throw down his gloves. He was subsequently handed a two-minute minor for his action against Laughton. Whereas the Maple Leafs forward received a double-minor penalty.

Rodrigues would head down the locker room and exit the game briefly. He later returned to the ice. The dual penalty meant that both teams were playing at even strength.

Social media reacts to embellishment call on Evan Rodrigues from the officials in Game 2

In the past few days, there have been huge debates regarding the officiating from the referees in the playoffs this year. Once again, a decision from the officials came under the spotlight after their call of embellishment on Evan Rodrigues in Game 2.

Evan Rodrigues
Evan Rodrigues (Image via NHLPA)

Fans on X raised their frustrations towards the officials for this call. Several of them blasted the officials. One user wrote, “Truly the worst officiating in the 4 major sports” while pointing out the officiating between the Big 4 sporting leagues.

Check out that and some other top fan reactions from X below:

In Game 1 of this second-round series between the Maple Leafs and the Panthers, there was another huge incident that many felt should have been a penalty. Defenseman Sam Bennett would collide with goaltender Anthony Stolarz during the 2nd period.

The 31-year-old goalie, who had already taken a puck hit to the head earlier on, got concussed following an elbow hit from Bennett. While Stolarz later exited the game and was taken to a nearby hospital, there was no-penalty call from the officials, which led to coach Craig Berube taking a swipe at them.

Former NHL star Kevin Bieksa left confused with Evan Rodrigues embellishment call in Game 2

The embellishment call by the officials in Game 2 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on Evan Rodrigues has stirred a huge debate among hockey fans and experts. While discussing this call, former NHL star Kevin Bieksa was left confused.

Kevin Bieksa
Kevin Bieksa (Image via Canucks Daily)

Discussing this incident on Sportsnet, Kevin Bieksa expressed that he did not know whether this was an embellishment or not from Rodrigues.

Probably an unnecessary hit right because whether you think there’s embellishment or not, you just you’re putting yourself in a bad situation… I don’t know, only Rodrigues knows. Obviously, if he is embellishing, we got it wrong, or he’s selling it. But he leaves (Paul) Maurice is mad. Trainer says something to Maurice here. I don’t know guys. I don’t really know if it’s embellishment or not.

Kevin Bieksa said

As Ron McLean and Elliotte Friedman continued to weigh in on the penalty call, Bieksa expressed that there was “chaos” on the field. As a result of this “chaos“, the referees “missed some stuff” according to the former NHL star.

The Maple Leafs went on to win the Game by a 4-3 scoreline and took a 2-0 series lead. They will now travel to Florida for Games 3 and 4 and hope to take a giant step towards the Eastern Conference Finals with other positive results.

Also Read: