This is frustrating. It seems like the league’s officiating has gone downhill since the Olympic break, and lately the Blackhawks have been on the wrong end of errant calls more then before. Before we go down that road, I wanted to do a very brief recap of last night’s 4-2 loss to the Ducks. The Blackhawks played relatively well on both ends of the ice. Corey Crawford looked okay in net. He made one bad play – leaving the crease to clear the puck from his zone, which led to a shorthanded goal for the Ducks. On the other end of the ice, Jonas Hiller stood on his head – as always – stopping thirty-nine of forty-one shots on goal.

The story from last night’s game was James Wisniewski’s hit of Brent Seabrook that only earned him two minutes in the box. Should have been longer, possibly a game misconduct. It was charging, interference and intent to injure all rolled into one. The refs blew the call when it happened, but the league has already announced they are reviewing the hit. I won’t be pleased with the ruling if he is suspended for two games or less. Nick Boynton became a hero in Chicago after one day on the job for dropping the gloves vs. Wisniewski in the last minute of the game.

Alexander Ovechkin’s hit on Brian Campbell was tame compared to Wisniewski’s hit on Seabrook. I know I keep saying this, but Ovechkin plays a reckless game. He may not fully understand the severity of his actions. Ovechkin planted his feet and drove Campbell’s defenseless body awkwardly to the boards, but in no way do I think he wanted to hurt the seven-million-dollar-man. Wisniewski went headhunting to exact revenge on Seabrook for a hit on Perry seconds earlier, and all he got was two minutes for charging? That is bull-roar.

Watch and listen (bellow). The worst part of this clip is that Anaheim’s color commentator, Brian Hayward, is questioning whether Seabrook is ‘selling’ the call. From what I’ve read elsewhere, Hayward later apologized for the comment.

Wisniewski sped to the corner, from the other end of the ice, with the intention to take a run at the Blackhawk defenseman, leaving his feet to bash Seabrook’s head into the glass. That hit was dirtier then Rod Blagojevich. Although, initially stunned, it didn’t appear as though Seabrook sustained any injury as a result of the hit, but he left the game. The Blackhawks already thin blue line could become thinner if Seabrook is out for any amount of time, and brace yourself to witness Dustin Byfuglien on defense once again. I doubt the small contingent that hoped Wisniewski would return to the Blackhawks one day exists no longer.

Next up, the Blackhawks will play the Kings tonight in Los Angeles. If Coach Quenneville can’t use Wednesday’s game to motivate his team, I don’t know what will. The ‘Hawks hope to stop their three-game losing streak.

Related Posts:

• Boynton On Re-Entry Waivers; More On Ovechkin’s Hit
• Brian Campbell returns to blue line in NY
• Paging Brian Campbell