Paul Bissonnette stoked the flames in what was already a controversy.
The TNT hockey analyst questioned whether the referees in the Stars’ 2-1 Game 6 win over the Avalanche on Friday night were betting on the game.
Mason Marchment appeared to score what would have been a series-winning goal in the first overtime, but it was waived off due to goalie interference on Matt Duchene, and the call was upheld after review despite Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar appearing to push Duchene into Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev.
Bissonnette sounded off during the intermission between the first and second overtimes.
“It seemed like what they’re trying to establish here, especially after there were a few ones against Florida and Tampa, is that they want goalies to fight for their position a little bit more, put up more of a fight,” Bissonnette said. “In this sense, [Georgiev] like taps his stick, and then it’s clear that the bump from Makar is what throws everything off. So it’s basically friendly fire in this case, where I think that for sure should have counted.
“Obviously, with the ref waiving it off, they’re probably going upstairs. They’re saying, ‘Well, we’ve got to stick with the original call.’ So I don’t know if that ref’s got the DraftKings sportsbook going right now. But that was kind of a BS call.”
Henrik Lundqvist, a former goalie, agreed with the ruling before Bissonnette’s rant, while Anson Carter, a former forward, disagreed.
Bissonnette, a former forward, served as the tie-breaker.
The Stars went on to win anyway in double overtime, with Duchene ironically scoring the game-winning goal, to advance to the Western Conference Final.
They’ll face either the Canucks or Oilers.
Marchment shared the explanation he got for the ruling after the game.
“Duchy’s ass was over the line,” Marchment said after the game. “His feet were outside, but his ass was over the line. That was the explanation I got. And then he got pushed in.
“I think, honestly, they didn’t want to make it a deciding goal. I get it, but there’s gotta be some sort of standard, because you can’t push your own guy into your goalie and it be goaltender interference.”
Bissonnette has often raised eyebrows with his pointed comments throughout the season, especially his consistent trolling of the Rangers and their fans.
After the Rangers lost Game 5 to the Hurricanes, which cut their series lead to 3-2 after holding a 3-0 lead, Bissonnette suggested the Rangers had “given up” in a video he posted on X.
The Rangers went on to win Game 6 and advance to the Eastern Conference Final, however.
