Referee Francois St. Laurent was just trying to stay out of the play. Instead, he took Boston’s Derek Forbort out of it.
Five minutes into Saturday’s game, the Winnipeg Jets dumped the puck deep into the Bruins zone. As Boston’s Connor Clifton and Winnipeg’s Jansen Harkins raced for the puck, St. Laurent skated backwards behind the net to avoid the oncoming skaters.
He reversed right into Forbort.
The two fell to the ice, leaving a clear path for Jets winger Kristian Vesalainen to retrieve the loose puck.
St. Laurent appeared to apologize to the Bruins blueliner for the collision.
Boston was able to hang on and weather the storm, keeping the play to the outside until the puck deflected out of play for a stoppage.
The Bruins went on to win the game 3-2.
Referees were Francois St. Laurent (#8) and Wes McCauley (#4), with linesmen Mark Shewchyk (#92) and Mitch Hunt (#62).
