Nashville head coach Barry Trotz was happy with his team’s 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks, but was very displeased with the Sommet Center clock operator following the game.
When Patrick Marleau scored to make the score 4-3, the clock read 50.7 seconds remaining in the third period. In the waning minutes of a game, it is not uncommon for officials to look at replays to determine if the clock was stopped at the appropriate time, but the delay following Marleau’s goal was extraordinarily long. After several minutes of a delay, the clock operator finally put 53.0 seconds on the clock before play was resumed.
“To me it was really unacceptable to be the team at home and we are giving free timeouts to arguably the best five players for any team put together, and it happens pretty regular here,” Trotz said.
The more than formidable combination of Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Ryane Clowe, and Dan Boyle was on the ice when Marleau drew the Sharks to within one goal. Thanks to the long delay preceding the ensuing faceoff, the same players were on the ice for that faceoff save for goaltender Thomas Greiss reentering the game in place of Clowe. Once the Sharks gained possession of the puck following that faceoff, Clowe came back on the ice as the extra attacker.
“That gave them a free timeout for about three minutes, and that’s five guys who can do damage on any given night,” the Preds bench boss said. “We have to get it corrected, but it is absolutely unacceptable for a home team.”
In the final few seconds of play, the Predators were whistled for icing, but the clock operator had a non-itchy trigger finger again and let the remaining time run down to 0.0. The officials again had to review the replay to determine how much time should have remained when the icing was whistled. Following another delay, 3.0 seconds were put up on the clock.
“It happened twice with three seconds to go,” Trotz said. “I think the referees were embarrassed and they just said there are three seconds left. We should have home-ice advantage.”
Jerred Smithson won the ensuing faceoff and that ended the game, but Trotz was still visibly seething several minutes later during his press conference.
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