NHL Referee Caught On Camera Rigging A Game Between The Lightning And The Canadiens

PUBLICATION

James Connelly
January 1, 2024 (6:23 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

A video has gone viral exposing an NHL referee for rigging a game between the Lightning and the Canadiens.

Kovacevic Scores One Of The Craziest Goals Of All Time

Last night, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic scored a goal from his own end despite it being the middle of the second period. Due to a miscommunication and the Tampa Bay Lightning believing that the play was dead, goaltender Jonas Johansson left his let allowing Kovacevic to shoot at the empty net.

This is the most bizarre thing I've ever seen.

The whistle never blows, music starts playing in the arena and Kovacevic recognizes that Johansson left the TBL net because he thought play was dead.

Insane goal.

Jonathan Kovacevic gets an empty net goal after there was no whistle! Literally so free!

Luckily, this play did not affect the outcome of the game as the Lightning were still able to win 4-3 in regulation.

Referee Caught On Video Rigging The Game

Today, a video showing an angle that catches the referee shows the referee about to blow the whistle, taking it out of his mouth, and telling Kovacevic to keep playing despite pretty much everybody on the ice stopping play.

While some are arguing that the players should have played till they heard a whistle, they heard the arena DJ playing music which almost always means that play was blown dead and the players assumed that play was blown dead.

Former NHL goaltender Mike McKenna offered some insight into the situation as a former player:

"You know who's fault this is? The in-house DJ. Itchy finger on the jams. Started playing music despite not hearing a whistle.

Sometimes players can't hear the whistle on the ice. But the moment you hear music, you know play has stopped.

Eek"

Nonetheless, it is clear that the referee made a biased call but luckily his hiccup was not enough to cost the Lightning the game.