Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand was left scratching his head after the referees failed to make what he believed was a clear-cut call during Wednesday night’s heated battle against the New York Rangers. The controversial moment came in the third period when K’Andre Miller ripped Marchand’s helmet off during a scrum—an infraction that should have resulted in an automatic penalty.
Marchand Calls Out Officials Over Missed Call
The sequence of events began when Marchand collided with Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, earning himself a roughing penalty. However, what baffled Marchand was that Miller wasn’t penalized for removing his helmet, which is typically an automatic infraction under NHL rules.
“I was just questioning about when a guy pulls your helmet off, it’s an automatic penalty,” Marchand said after the game. “So I was just curious why they didn’t call it when it’s automatic.”
Marchand, never one to shy away from voicing his opinion, made it clear that while he accepted his own penalty, the lack of a matching call on Miller left him frustrated.
“Yeah. I mean, obviously, I hit the goalie. That’s a penalty. Wasn’t upset about that. I knew it was a penalty. It was more again. That’s an automatic call. So, I don’t know why it wasn’t a call.”
The Rangers capitalized on the missed call almost immediately. As Marchand served his penalty, Vincent Trocheck found the back of the net to tie the game. The momentum swung in New York’s favor, ultimately leading to a 3-2 comeback victory.
Bruins Let Lead Slip as Rangers Rally
It was a rollercoaster game for the Bruins, who held a 2-1 lead entering the third period thanks to goals from David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm. The Rangers, however, mounted an impressive push, with Trocheck tying it up and Chris Kreider delivering the dagger with a short-handed game-winner.
Reflecting on the loss, Marchand acknowledged the team’s mistakes down the stretch:
“They have a good power play, and we did a good job in the second after they scored, killing a couple off and then, get a couple goals. Unfortunately, made some mistakes in the third to kind of throw that one away, but you know we have to get ready for the next one here now.”
While Joonas Korpisalo made 19 saves for Boston, it wasn’t enough to stop the Rangers’ offensive push. On the other end, Igor Shesterkin stood tall with 15 saves, including key stops that helped New York secure the win.
Controversy Overshadows Hard-Fought Battle
Marchand’s reaction to the non-call on Miller is likely to stir debate among fans and analysts. NHL rules clearly state that removing an opponent’s helmet during a scrum should result in a penalty, yet the officials chose not to enforce the rule in this instance. Whether it was an oversight or a conscious decision, the missed call proved costly for Boston.
The Bruins, now looking to bounce back, will have to shake off the frustrating loss and prepare for their next challenge. As for Marchand, his competitive fire isn’t going anywhere—and neither is his willingness to speak up when he feels his team was wronged.
I am a writer with a passion for technology and gaming. I write about a variety of subjects, including Esports, Games, Shows, and Sports. I create engaging and informative content for Hiptoro.