Chicago failed in their attempt to maintain home ice advantage in their second round match-up with the Detroit Red Wings after falling Saturday afternoon 4-1.
Unable to capitalize off Patrick Kaneโs first period tally giving the Blackhawks the lead Chicago from there was only able to muster 20 shots against Jimmy Howard who shut the door after a stellar Game 1 despite the four goals against.
Now thereโs no doubt that Blackhawksโ captain Jonathan Toews would like his team to play better, but heโs pointing the finger at the officiating who in his mind seem to be calling a lopsided affair.
(via Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times)
โThereโs a lot of clutch and grab, lot of interference, and if theyโre going to let that go, thatโs something we need to know,โ Toews said. โItโs just tough to understand sometimes why we get roughing and hooking penalties, [and] that doesnโt go both ways.โ
โIf thatโs the way theyโre going to play, we need to play the same way.โ
The bottom line is there were calls missed on both sides, thatโs playoff hockey. Nonetheless itโs been a bitch-fest this postseason when it comes to the officiating.
Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night in Detroit.