Ever been to a hockey game or, any sporting event, really, and heard some loud, semi-drunken buffoon caterwauling about the referee's ineptitude and obvious inability to see or perceive what is going on in the game, let alone wonder at their ability to sleep, eat, breathe or basically function as a human being on a daily basis?
Well, if that buffoon were in D.C. last night, he'd finally have something real to sink his teeth into.
The Detroit Red Wings posted a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals last night, in a game that may have included one of - if not the - most egregiously incorrect officiating calls of all time.
Now, referees are people, just like you and me, so of course we know that there will be a botched call or two in every NHL season and depending on the officiating crew and depending on what team you're a fan of, in seemingly every NHL game.
But a disallowed goal by Detroit's Drew Miller on Wednesday night will undoubtedly go down in hockey lore as one of the sport's most ridiculous "what were they thinking?" moments.
You can see the video below.
Early in the first period, the Red Wings, on a rush, work the puck into the Capital's zone. Caps goalie Braden Holtby leaves his crease to play it back up the boards. Red Wings center Luke Glendening arrives almost simultaneously.
He maybe - maybe - grazes Holtby with his stick as he glides past him. Holtby is unfazed and unaffected.
As Holtby returns to his crease, skating backwards, he trips over himself and falls.
Drew Miller grabs the puck in the corner and pots it before Holtby can regain his composure - goal Detroit.
Except not. The refs disallowed the goal and, even worse, gave Glendening a penalty for goalie interference. Check it out for yourself:
Thankfully, the play and the call did not alter the outcome of the game.
But it's impossible not to watch the video and come away asking just what the heck the officials thought they saw.
