Referee Exposed for Fixing Game Between the Sabres and Rangers

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James Connelly
December 24, 2023 (1:31 PM)

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A pair of NHL referees have been exposed for making blatantly biased calls during last night's game between the Sabres and the Rangers.

Refs Exposed For Making Horrible Calls

It is no secret that NHL referees can make terrible calls from time to time. However, during last night's game between the Sabres and the Rangers, the referees were caught making blatantly biased calls which had a direct outcome on the game.

In the first period, Sabres veteran Erik Johnson was complaining about a missed call and eventually paid the price for this later on in the game. After fighting Rangers rookie Willie Cuylle, Johnson was given an extra two minutes for instigating which was unfair as Cuylle was clearly willing to drop the gloves.

After getting the extra penalty, Johnson was outraged and he let the referees have it. This resulted in his ejection and fellow Sabre Jeff Skinner getting a 10-minute penalty as well.

To add to the bias, the Rangers got four powerplay opportunities while the Sabres got only one. Sure there can be a discrepancy in the number of penalties taken but a difference of three seems a bit absurd.

Johnson Comments On The Bias

After the game, Erik Johnson left all of the dirty laundry out to dry and he exposed the referees for their bias.

"I don't know if there's a gray area with the instigator or what have you, but that's not an instigator. That's two willing combatants that both accept a fight after what I thought was a hit on my partner, a young player in a vulnerable spot, and he needed to answer the bell for that. I thought it was ridiculous. I'd like to say more, even if I get fined. I really don't care. I thought it was BS." - Erik Johnson

Erik Johnson was still upset when I spoke to him after the OT loss.

According to Johnson, the ref told the Sabres' bench that he was given the instigator penalty because they were complaining too much in the first period.

The Rangers wound up winning the game 4-3 and fans were quick to call the referees out. It is unknown if the NHL will launch an investigation into the issue but biased refereeing is not good for the integrity of the game.

As seen on The Buffalo News - Sabres confused, angry after 'ridiculous' penalties stemming from Johnson fight