Another day, another officiating injury.
Linesman Andrew Smith was forced out of Monday’s Game 2 between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets for a medical evaluation; no word on any specific illness or injury, or his current status.
Smith, #51, was replaced on the lines by referee Chris Schlenker, the assigned standby official. Schlenker wore the #85 linesperson jersey, which is a league-mandated spare in each arena in case of emergency, including damage or lost luggage.
The veteran official, in his eighth NHL season, has officiated 553 regular season games along with 38 playoff matches.
This is the second officiating injury so far this postseason. Liney Bryan Pancich was injured at Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights; he was replaced in that game by referee Frederick L’Ecuyer.
In non-elimination games during the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, only one official may be assigned to be on standby for a game. During elimination games and throughout the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final, one referee and one linesperson are in the building. Regular season games have no standby officials.
The Winnipeg Jets went on to defeat the St. Louis Blues 2-1 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. Officials for the game were referees Jon McIsaac (#2) and Chris Rooney (#5) with Ryan Daisy (#81) and Andrew Smith (#51) — and later, referee Chris Schlenker (#3, but wearing #85) — on lines.
