Bruins Analysts Fired Up Over Controversial Hit To Brandon Carlo

Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo was hit from behind by Stars forward Jamie Benn in the first period of Boston’s 7-2 loss to Dallas on Thursday night.

The call on the ice was originally a five-minute major, but after review, the referees deemed the penalty a two-minute minor.

“(The original call) is the correct call because that allows you to review it,” Bruins analyst Barry Pederson told NESN.com. “So, if you make it a double minor or a major, you can review it.

“We were shocked that when they reviewed it, the play didn’t stand because it should have. (Carlo’s) in a defensive situation. He’s in a very bad position from the boards at three or four feet. And if Benn wants to get the puck, he can go around him and get lateral with him. But, he goes through him on the numbers and that should be an automatic major. … That should have been a major every day on Sunday.”

“I’m very surprised that they reversed that,” Billy Jaffe added. “Shocked.”

Both Pederson and Jaffe weren’t shocked that Nikita Zadorov jumped to the defense of his Bruins teammate.

“That was a great response by Zadorov,” Pederson said. “And Benn being the veteran that he is and a pretty honest, hardened guy, he knows what’s coming. His gloves were off right away.”

Another call both Pederson and Jaffe had an issue with the infraction called on Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei that resulted in a penalty shot for Stars forward Evgenii Dadonov.

“Yeah, that wasn’t a penalty shot,” Pederson said. “There was zero separation. He was next to him. I’m not even sure it was a penalty, period. Let alone a penalty shot.”

“The referee seemed to be very slow to react,” Jaffe added. “Watched it. Waited, and then he had the arm up. And then he waited to make the call that it was a penalty shot. So it’s like he thought about it. Was he? I don’t know.”

Both Pederson and Jaffe agreed that it would be beneficial for the league to have a pool report and reporter in place to help educate teams, analysts and reporters about why the calls are being made the way that they are.