Referee's Blind Spot: Bruce Cassidy Criticizes Non-Call, Labeling it "Dangerous" during Golden Knights' Game
Vegas went down 2-0 in the series after Edmonton Oilers edged the Golden Knights 5-4 in overtime on Thursday. The Golden Knights managed to claw their way back from a two-goal deficit, but Leon Draisaitl sealed the deal in overtime, leaving the Golden Knights fuming.
Coach Bruce Cassidy lambasted referee Gord Dwyer for missing a critical call that led to defenseman Brayden McNabb's injury. Cassidy felt the play was dangerous and deserved a penalty, but Dwyer didn't dish one out. McNabb had to sit out the rest of the game, and Draisaitl's game-winning goal came immediately afterward, infuriating the home crowd even more.
Vegas had been trailing 4-2 after Evander Kane scored less than two minutes into the third period. The Golden Knights desperately needed to revitalize the crowd, and they did so with goals from Viktor Olofsson and Alex Pietrangelo, forcing overtime.
If the ref had called the penalty, the power play would have had another chance. Olofsson had scored twice on the man advantage during the game, and a shot at a hat-trick winner in overtime would have turned the series around. Instead, Adin Hill let a Draisaitl two-on-one chance slip by him.
The Golden Knights must put this game behind them and focus on Game 3, which kicks off in Edmonton on Saturday at 6 p.M PST.
Controversial refereeing decisions have been popping up all over the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with some officials being pulled from the postseason due to poor performance and controversy surrounding others in other games. However, there is no specific information available about a controversial call in Game 2 between the Golden Knights and the Oilers. If such a controversy exists but hasn't been reported widely yet, the details may not be publicly accessible at this time.
- The critical call missed by referee Gord Dwyer could have impacted the playoff odds for Vegas, as a penalty might have granted them an additional power play opportunity for Viktor Olofsson, who was on a two-goal streak on the man advantage in Game 2.
- Saturday's Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs series between the Golden Knights and the Oilers may hinge on how the team deals with the controversial offensive zone call that led to Brayden McNabb's injury and the subsequent game-winning goal by Leon Draisaitl.
- The NHL sports-analysis reports have highlighted the increasing contention surrounding refereeing decisions in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with some officials being scrutinized for poor performance and questionable calls in various games, including the series between the Golden Knights and the Oilers.
- With the scores now tied at 2-2 in the playoff series, hockey betting odds for both teams are likely to be close heading into Game 3, as each team will be looking to secure a crucial victory in the race to advance to the NHL final stages.
