Who was officiating the Canada-Czechia Olympic hockey game on Wednesday? It was actually a crew of four officials: three from the NHL and one from Sweden. Their questionable calls might have changed the game’s outcome—and impacted the Penguins’ season.
As I write this, Sidney Crosby is getting tests for a leg injury. NBC mentioned he might re-enter the game, which is a glimmer of hope, but the replays looked concerning.
Here’s the kicker: if one of the officials had called an obvious interference penalty on Ondrej Palat earlier, Canada might have had a power play. Crosby’s injury could’ve been avoided. Palat charged at Crosby like a linebacker, leaving him crumpled against the boards. How could they miss that?
Crosby is always a target, especially at the Olympics. It’s puzzling to think about how the officials let that go. Where’s Tom Wilson when you need him?
Shockingly, that wasn’t even the worst officiating error. The real blunder came when Czechia scored with six players on the ice, right under the officials’ noses. It wasn’t a close call—six players were attacking when they scored. How could that go unnoticed?
After the game, Czechia coach Radim Rulik pointed out a funny irony in his frustration, saying, “I feel like everyone is afraid to call anything against Canada. We were basically playing against six players.” No, Radim. You were playing with six players!
Some might question whether NHL players should leave their teams mid-season for these games. Many say it’s worth it; players love representing their countries. Injuries are just part of the game.
But the same logic doesn’t apply to events like the World Baseball Classic. Is anyone really invested in that? Did you even know it was happening? Sure, if Paul Skenes wants to play, he should. But the Olympics carry a different weight. They happen in the middle of the hockey season, so players are already in shape. Spring training doesn’t offer that kind of preparation.
Crosby’s injury overshadowed what was an exciting day of hockey. While I’m not a fan of deciding Olympic games with 3-on-3 overtime, it sure was thrilling. The U.S. and Canada had nail-biting finishes. Imagine if they used this format in the Stanley Cup Playoffs—10 minutes of 5-on-5, then 5-on-4, and finally 5 minutes of 3-on-3 if needed. Some might say that’s outlandish, but it’s entertaining. If those three overtime games didn’t excite you, you might just be missing that spark.
Interestingly, while many argue the NHL benefits from such intense Olympic hockey, I think it’s the opposite. The Olympic games shine brighter than regular-season NHL matches, making them look lackluster in comparison.
