Mark Zaleski / Associated Press
NHL hockey operations director Colin Campbell said the league is “investigating” an incident that involved an official who appeared to admit a call during the Detroit Red Wings vs. Nashville Predators game on Tuesday.
Hockey Writer Ken Campbell relayed the news about the comments of the dihockey operations dean, who did not comment further on the incident. Campbell later reported that a “trusted source” reported that the call was made by referee Tim Peel.
Action Network’s Tommy Stokke described what was supposed to happen.
“NHL referee Tim Peel was heard on a microphone admitting that he intended to score a penalty against the Nashville Predators in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.
“The penalty came just under five minutes into the second period when Peel whistled Viktor Arvidsson of Nashville for taking Jon Merrill down from Detroit. It was the second penalty in the game, but the first in Nashville. Detroit was called in for interference with 6:19 remaining in the opening period.“
Sportsnet video producer Matt Best provided a video on Twitter that seemed to capture a voice (presumably an officer) talking about the call on a hot microphone (NSFW language).
“It wasn’t much, but I wanted to get a shitty penalty against Nashville at the beginning of …” a voice is heard before it vanishes when the Fox Sports Tennessee broadcast went to the commercial.
Ultimately, the call had no effect on the game.
Detroit didn’t score in the power play and the Predators ended up winning 2-0. Nashville ended the night with four penalties against Detroit’s three in a relatively clean competition.