The Winnipeg Jets had seen their 3-1 lead disappear in just over three minutes of the third period. With the clock ticking down in a tie game, the Jets were frustrated. Winnipeg seemed to take particular issue with two calls by linesman Shandor Alphonso.
Alphonso whistled for the Jets icing with 2:07 to play. Evander Kane, who was coming in fast and looked to beat Arizona’s Michael Stone to the puck, argued the call with Alphonso.
Jets’ Kane and Coyotes’ Stone race for the puck
Because of the icing, Byfuglien remained on the ice.
After a faceoff win, the Jets moved the puck into the offensive zone. Matt Halischuk’s back pass skipped over Byfuglien’s stick and across the blueline into the neutral zone. Byfuglien recovered the puck and attempted to stickhandle the puck back into the zone when Alphonso again blew the whistle.
Alphonso ruled it an intentional offside and called for the faceoff in the Jets’ defensive zone. The Jets has been on for a long shift – the same five remained on the ice following the disputed icing call – and the call was reflective of the Jets trying for an intentional stoppage that would result in a draw just outside the offensive zone.
Byfuglien voiced his disagreement with the rookie linesman. As Alphonso went to puck up the puck for the ensuing faceoff, Byfuglien knocked it away with his stick.
Referee Jean Hebert decided he’d seen enough. He sent Big Buff to the sin bin, putting Winnipeg shorthanded for the remainder of regulation.
The Jets were able to kill off the penalty, ultimately winning in a shootout. It’s likely that Byfuglien, though, lost a little respect from the referees and linesmen for his actions.
