SUNRISE, Fla. -- Max Talbot wasnt just banged up after Sundays 3-2 win (see story) over the Florida Panthers. He was confused.
Talbot was hit in the face by the stick of Panthers defenseman Jason Garrison with about three minutes left to play in the third period. And he was hit hard -- his left tooth was chipped in half, his bottom lip required stitches and there was a pool of blood on the ice.
But there was no penalty called on Garrison.
I was not able to get an explanation from the referees. I was looking for my tooth, Talbot said. There was blood everywhere, so I couldnt really talk. But I would have liked to hear what he had to say.
Generally, a high-sticking call warrants a two-minute minor. If blood is drawn, an automatic double-minor is assignedno matter whether the perpetrator had any intent. And yet, Talbot got no call despite a lengthy discussion between captain Chris Pronger and referee Stephane Auger.
What makes the lack of a call even stranger is that Talbot himself served a double-minor for high-sticking early in the third period. Talbot did hit Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell in the mouth, and Campbell did bleed, but only barely at best.
Talbot, meanwhile, sported a swollen lip during his postgame interview, speaking slowly and deliberately, swirling his tongue around what was left of his damaged tooth.
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I find funny that I not even clip a guy in the face in the third, and he bites his lip and I get four minutes, Talbot said. And then something like this happens and theres four refs on the iceI know theyre human and they dont see everything, but theres something not right.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com