NHL Referee Chris Rooney Faces Backlash for His Officiating in the Stanley Cup Finals

The second game of the Panthers vs. Golden Knights series was a highly intense and physically demanding showdown, resulting in a staggering total of 148 penalty minutes for both teams.

During the game, a controversial incident unfolded right before the eyes of the NHL referee. Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb cross-checked Matthew Tkachuk into the Knights' net, but surprisingly, no penalty was called. Tkachuk, being hit from behind, found himself facing harassment from the Knights' goaltender, who delivered a couple of shots and even took a swing at Tkachuk with the paddle of his stick.

While it's worth noting that Tkachuk may have aggravated the situation by attempting to push Hill to free himself from the net or retaliate, this was only in response to Hill boxing him in, initiating the altercation. Unfortunately, the referee failed to intervene, allowing play to continue, which ultimately led to the Golden Knights scoring and taking a two-goal lead.

This sequence of events clearly warranted a stoppage in play, with either Adin Hill or both players involved being penalized for roughing, slashing, or any appropriate infraction. The fact that the entire incident went uncalled right in front of the referee is truly outrageous.

Furthermore, it's disheartening to see that not only was this incident overlooked, but several other calls throughout the game were either mishandled or completely disregarded. As a result, numerous fans took to social media, vehemently criticizing Chris Rooney and, regrettably, resorting to offensive language and slurs in their frustration.