Blues fans can’t say they weren’t warned.
On Thursday night, St. Louis scored three goals in 32 seconds of the second period to outscore the Islanders 4-0, but referee Garrett Rank stole a bit of the spotlight and drew the ire of the Enterprise Center crowd. Ta.
With 9 minutes, 32 seconds left in the game, the Blues led by four points and looked like they would be within five when Alexei Trobchenko deflected the puck past Isles netminder Semyon Varlamov.
Nevertheless, it was quickly waved off as officials deemed Trobchenko hit the puck with a high stick.
After officials took another look at the potential goal on video, they decided it certainly wasn’t a good goal, but that’s when Rank took center stage and had a little fun with the crowd.
“You’re not going to like it, but the decision on the ice was correct, no goal,” Rank said as boos began pouring down.
The on-ice call entertained Bally Sports’ Blue broadcast team.
“That’s a good explanation of Garrett Rank,” play-by-play man John Kelly said.
Thursday night wasn’t the first time Rank had been so candid in addressing the crowd.
Earlier this season, during a game between the Panthers and the Senators, he made fans laugh by trying to get in the middle of a brawl.
“Every player on the ice has 10 minutes of misconduct,” Rank announced during a game in November.
Rank also has a pretty unique story. Intense schedule of NHL officiating and amateur golf during the season He is not officiating during the summer.
