The National Hockey League has looked at videotape of Monday's Florida-Carolina game and concluded off-ice officials did not misrepresent the faceoff numbers, as was claimed Tuesday by Panthers coach Mike Keenan.
Chief statistician Benny Ercolani said he looked at the tape of the first period and, while 12 of the 23 faceoffs were decided out of camera range, he questioned the decision on one.
Keenan and center Olli Jokinen charged Tuesday that the faceoff numbers had been skewed by Carolina's off-ice crew. "I don't know what the motivation is in Carolina to keep accurate statistics," Keenan said. Those statistics showed Carolina won 55-of-76 faceoffs Monday, four days after the Hurricanes had a 32-26 edge in the season opener in Florida.
Ercolani said it's not unusual to hear criticism about off-ice officials in certain cities, and that he had received complaints in the past about Carolina, but those had more to do with ice time than shots or faceoffs.
"We check certain things," he said. "When there's criticism that comes and it's constructive, we look at it."
Off-ice officials are hired and paid by the NHL. Ercolani said while it's been more difficult to find experienced hockey people in Sun Belt cities such as Carolina and Atlanta, he's confident that the people who have been hired are competent.
"You take a place like Minnesota and all the guys but three have officiated in the WHL (Western Hockey League)," he said.
Noteworthy: Second-line center Matt Cullen (groin) missed the game, but Niklas Hagman played with a bruised foot.... Saturday's game against the New York Islanders, which will be the Islanders' home opener, could be moved to the afternoon if the Yankees are in the World Series.
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Chief statistician Benny Ercolani said he looked at the tape of the first period and, while 12 of the 23 faceoffs were decided out of camera range, he questioned the decision on one.
Keenan and center Olli Jokinen charged Tuesday that the faceoff numbers had been skewed by Carolina's off-ice crew. "I don't know what the motivation is in Carolina to keep accurate statistics," Keenan said. Those statistics showed Carolina won 55-of-76 faceoffs Monday, four days after the Hurricanes had a 32-26 edge in the season opener in Florida.
Ercolani said it's not unusual to hear criticism about off-ice officials in certain cities, and that he had received complaints in the past about Carolina, but those had more to do with ice time than shots or faceoffs.
"We check certain things," he said. "When there's criticism that comes and it's constructive, we look at it."
Off-ice officials are hired and paid by the NHL. Ercolani said while it's been more difficult to find experienced hockey people in Sun Belt cities such as Carolina and Atlanta, he's confident that the people who have been hired are competent.
"You take a place like Minnesota and all the guys but three have officiated in the WHL (Western Hockey League)," he said.
Noteworthy: Second-line center Matt Cullen (groin) missed the game, but Niklas Hagman played with a bruised foot.... Saturday's game against the New York Islanders, which will be the Islanders' home opener, could be moved to the afternoon if the Yankees are in the World Series.
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