Referees eject another coach after he asks for clarification, as league continues to get out of control

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TJ Tucker
November 7, 2023 (7:49)

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Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft has to know that his job is hanging by an extremely thin thread at the moment, and the stress may be getting to him.

In the dying minutes of Edmonton's game against the Vancouver Canucks last night, Woodcroft said something to the referee that must have been pretty bad. Woodcroft started walking to the back before the official even had a chance to raise his arm. When he did, he announced a two-minute bench minor, and a game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

After the game had ended, Woodcroft insisted with reporters that all he did was ask a question.

"I asked about the play on [Dylan] Holloway, and you know, it wasn't profanity laced or anything. it was a question. It wasn't well received when i asked the question, and in the end I got to be better. I can't take a penalty to put our team down. I didn't think it crossed the line at all, but it's sometimes the way you send a message, or ask a question, the way it's received might be not in the manner you intend it to.

"I think frustration would be a profanity-laced tirade. that's not what that was. It was a question. It was a fair question. It ended up costing us. i can be better."

Woodcroft may want to think about getting better quickly. It isn't too late to turn things around, but with a 2-8-1 record so far, every additional loss means more ground to make up later in the season.