For some of the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, that anger was directed at the officiating.
"It's definitely disappointing [to lose], but [Ilya Kovalchuk] is getting mugged in the neutral zone and there is no call," Martin Brodeur, who made 33 saves, told NJ.com. "I think everybody thought we were going to get a call there and all game long, I don't know what these referees were watching.
"It was kind of a different game for [the Bruins] than for us, but you have to battle through this," Brodeur added.
Winger Patrik Elias let his frustrations boil after Patrice Bergeron netted the game-winner, shouting at the officials and getting a game misconduct — a fruitless call if there ever was one, as the game was over.
"I voiced my opinion [to the refs]," Elias told NJ.com. "It's not worth me saying anything [more] about [the refs] today."
Zach Parise, who was issued an interference penalty when the Devils were on a third-period power play, also took issue.
"I can't agree with the call because I'm lifting the guy's stick," Parise told NJ.com. "Maybe [the official] saw it from a different angle, but that's a tough call — especially when you're on the power play. A lot could've been called that weren't, and it seemed like a lot that usually aren't penalties were penalties. It was kind of weird."
The Devils' frustrations likely have just as much to do with their recent March slide, as they have gone 4-3-3 in their last 10 games and still sit a point behind Pittsburgh for the Atlantic Division lead. Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner, however, was not one for excuses.
"You earn your breaks and calls by playing well forcing them to call stuff. We didn't do that in the first periods. We put a little pressure on then there in spurts," Langenbrunner told the Web site. "We got a power play opportunity to capitalize. You make your judgment on the rest of the game."
