When a player feels sick, they can hide on the bench or hurry down the tunnel to the locker room. When it happens to a referee out on the ice, there’s nowhere to go – especially when the puck is in play.
Referee Mike Leggo did his best to hang in there, waiting for a whistle, but he was unable to make it off the ice in time. He left the ice with 7:37 to play in the first period, with the Penguins leading 2-0.
Referee Paul Devorski addresses the Lightning bench after Leggo leaves the ice
Referee Paul Devorski officiated the remainder of the game solo, with linesmen Steve Barton and Michel Cormier completing the three-man unit. Only four more penalties were called in the game, none in the third period.
“I felt awful for him,” said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. “But we all felt like that after the first period.” The Bolts trailed 3-1 after one, and went on to lose the game 6-3.
Hopefully Leggo’s feeling better today. He’s scheduled to work Canadiens vs. Penguins tonight.
