Bowman Says Referees Need to Learn Their ABCs

Detroit Coach Scotty Bowman got a road victory against hated rival Colorado on Saturday. But you’d never know it from his postgame comments.

Bowman 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 the Avalanche.

“The league has got to take a better stand on assigning referees for games like this,” he said. “We never get the top five [referees]. It’s not fair to both teams. You’ve got to put in your two best guys.”

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

“I have no respect for this one guy [Shick],” Bowman said.

Atlanta 4, Toronto 1--Hnat Domenichelli had a goal and two assists and former King Donald Audette added a goal as the Thrashers ended a 10-game losing streak with a victory at Toronto.

Toronto defenseman Bryan Berard, who was hit in the face by Marian Hossa’s stick during a game in Ottawa on March 11 and injured his eye, will undergo exploratory surgery Tuesday.

New York Rangers 3, Philadelphia 2--Valeri Kamensky scored two goals at Philadelphia to lead the Rangers past the Flyers, who were playing their third consecutive game without captain Eric Lindros, out with his fourth concussion in two years.

Cancer-stricken Flyer Coach Roger Neilson, who underwent a stem cell transplant March 10, could be out of the hospital this week, his doctor said.

Florida 4, New York Islanders 2--Pavel Bure broke a tie at Uniondale, N.Y., with 1:10 left, then added an empty-netter to give him his fourth hat trick of the season and fourth career 50-goal season.

Montreal 3, Carolina 2--Jeff Hackett made 33 saves as the Canadiens defeated the Hurricanes at Montreal to move ahead of Pittsburgh and stay ahead of the New York Rangers by one point for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

Boston 3, Pittsburgh 2--The Bruins played their first home game since 1979 without Ray Bourque and improved to 3-2 since trading him to Colorado.

Dallas 2, Chicago 2--Michael Nylander and Boris Mironov scored 1:12 apart in the third to rally the Blackhawks to a tie with the Stars at Chicago.

Buffalo 5, Calgary 1--Vaclav Varada scored twice to lead the Sabres past the Flames at Calgary.

Vancouver 6, Ottawa 1--Todd Bertuzzi scored two of the Canucks’ four second-period goals to establish career-highs for goals (19) and points (40) as the Canucks routed the Senators at Vancouver.