I Watched This Game: Canucks overcome 'real odd' officiating in win over Blue Jackets

I Watched This Game: Canucks Overcome 'Real Odd' Officiating in Win Over Blue Jackets

Drew O'Connor recorded two points in a crucial regulation victory for the Vancouver Canucks. Despite the win, the game’s officiating became an unavoidable focus on Saturday night, drawing frustration from both teams and fans.

Controversial Officiating Takes Center Stage

The matchup may have been one of the most unevenly officiated games seen in the NHL this season, with missed penalties on both sides. From a Canucks perspective, several critical fouls seemed to go unnoticed, amplifying the sense of imbalance on the ice.

"You never want officiating to be the story of the game, but it was unavoidable on Saturday night."

Key Missed Calls

Conor Garland was tripped in the first period in what appeared to be an obvious penalty.
Max Sasson was checked from behind in the second, sending his helmet flying.
Tyler Myers suffered a blow to the back of the head in the third period.
Late in the second period, Quinn Hughes was pulled back by Ivan Provorov on a near breakaway, yet no penalty or shot was awarded.

Referee Jordan Samuels-Thomas appeared to be in clear view during the latter incident but opted not to make the call, leaving players and spectators baffled.

Team Perspective

Though the Canucks ultimately prevailed, the inconsistent officiating overshadowed much of their performance. Observers noted that while fan perspective may influence perception, some missed infractions were too blatant to ignore.

Author’s Summary: Despite their victory over Columbus, Vancouver’s win was marred by questionable officiating that highlighted inconsistencies in NHL penalty enforcement.

North Shore News — 2025-11-08