ESPN.com - DENVER -- Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman on Saturday criticized the NHL for assigning what he described as second-rate referees to officiate ABC's first televised game of the season. Following his team's 4-3 victory over Colorado, Bowman said the league "needs ABC badly. We've got to promote the game. We're trying to get a (long-term network television) contract, and we get stuck with that. "The league has got to take a better stand on assigning referees for games like this. We never get the top five (referees). It's not fair to both teams. You've got to put in your two best guys. "It was a huge game. These two teams represent probably the best rivalry in hockey. You've got ABC coming in here for the first game. You've got (Ray) Bourque's (400th) goal and everything else. It's a natural. This should have been treated like a Stanley Cup final." ABC's new contract with the NHL calls for it to televise a limited number of games this season, with the option of expanding its schedule in the future. In a stinging postgame diatribe, Bowman said too many penalties were called for minor incidents. "It was not a well-handled game," he said. "I was a little disappointed in all the calls. I didn't think it was that kind of a game." Bowman identified several top-notch referees who he said should have been assigned for the game. "We've got to get guys like Bill McCreary or Kerry Fraser or Don Koharski or Dan Marouelli," he said. "You can't take a chance in these games. Bryan Lewis (the NHL's director of officiating) should be questioned on that call, nobody else, not (commissioner Gary) Bettman, nobody." Dave Jackson and Rob Shick were the two referees for Saturday's game. "I have no respect for this one guy (Shick)," Bowman said. The coach said Shick cursed at him after a game about two weeks ago, and then, "He even rubbed it in with 1:24 to go today," Bowman said. "We had (Martin) Lapointe on the ice, and he wouldn't let him come off. Just to shove it in more, I guess. That's why I called a timeout."

NHL


		Scores/Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries Players Weekly lineup Video Highlights

Saturday, March 18
Bowman questions choice of refs

Associated Press

DENVER -- Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman on Saturday criticized the NHL for assigning what he described as second-rate referees to officiate ABC's first televised game of the season.

Following his team's 4-3 victory over Colorado, Bowman said the league "needs ABC badly. We've got to promote the game. We're trying to get a (long-term network television) contract, and we get stuck with that.

"The league has got to take a better stand on assigning referees for games like this. We never get the top five (referees). It's not fair to both teams. You've got to put in your two best guys.

"It was a huge game. These two teams represent probably the best rivalry in hockey. You've got ABC coming in here for the first game. You've got (Ray) Bourque's (400th) goal and everything else. It's a natural. This should have been treated like a Stanley Cup final."

ABC's new contract with the NHL calls for it to televise a limited number of games this season, with the option of expanding its schedule in the future.

In a stinging postgame diatribe, Bowman said too many penalties were called for minor incidents.

"It was not a well-handled game," he said. "I was a little disappointed in all the calls. I didn't think it was that kind of a game."

Bowman identified several top-notch referees who he said should have been assigned for the game.

"We've got to get guys like Bill McCreary or Kerry Fraser or Don Koharski or Dan Marouelli," he said. "You can't take a chance in these games. Bryan Lewis (the NHL's director of officiating) should be questioned on that call, nobody else, not (commissioner Gary) Bettman, nobody."

Dave Jackson and Rob Shick were the two referees for Saturday's game.

"I have no respect for this one guy (Shick)," Bowman said.

The coach said Shick cursed at him after a game about two weeks ago, and then, "He even rubbed it in with 1:24 to go today," Bowman said. "We had (Martin) Lapointe on the ice, and he wouldn't let him come off. Just to shove it in more, I guess. That's why I called a timeout."

ALSO SEE
Wings top Avs, but Bourque gets historic 400th goal