Stanley Cup Playoffs : Maloney Blames Officials After Jets Lose to Oilers

Winnipeg Coach Dan Maloney ignored the fact that his team has never beaten the Edmonton Oilers in a playoff game.

Instead, Maloney pointed to the officiating after the Jets lost, 5-3, Thursday night at Edmonton to fall behind, 2-0, in the Smythe Division final series.

“I thought we played well,” Maloney said. “It was not any of our own doing to get behind. It was just a case of bad officiating. I’m most definitely going to complain to the league.”

Maloney complained particularly about referee Denis Morel’s failure to call an instigation penalty on the Oilers’ Marty McSorley for a fight with Jim Kyte.

Perhaps Maloney is just looking for an edge for Game 3 Saturday night at Winnipeg.

“I’m not going to get into a debate about the officiating or the fight,” Edmonton Coach Glen Sather said, “but it seemed like two big guys who wanted to fight.”

Dave Hunter and Charlie Huddy scored late in the first period to trigger a four-goal surge that carried the Oilers to the victory.

The Oilers made it 3-1 at 6:09 of the second period on a goal by defenseman Reijo Ruotsalainen. The play was set up when Thomas Steen, who had Winnipeg’s first goal, failed on a three-on-two break for the Jets.

The Oilers made it 4-1 on a goal by Moe Lemay at 15:23 of the second period, but the Jets’ Ray Neufeld countered with 56 seconds left in the second period.

Edmonton’s Glenn Anderson ended Winnipeg’s chances with his seventh playoff goal, on a power play at 8:09 of the third period.

Toronto 7, Detroit 2--Steve Thomas had two goals and an assist to lead the Maple Leafs past the Red Wings at Detroit for a 2-0 lead in the Norris Division final series.

Russ Courtnall added a goal and two assists for Toronto. Game 3 is Saturday at Toronto.

Maple Leaf goalie Ken Wregget stopped 30 of 32 shots.