Wild's Foligno describes questionable penalties in loss to Stars

Minnesota Wild left winger Marcus Foligno. Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

Wild's Marcus Foligno used one word to describe penalties in loss to Stars

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/23/23

Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno wasn't a happy camper after being on the wrong end of several questionable calls in Sunday's 3-2 Game 4 loss to the Dallas Stars.

After the loss, a mystified Foligno gave a short and sweet answer when asked to address the calls against him, telling reporters they were "B-------."

Foligno committed two penalties in Game 4, which look relatively innocent when viewed on replays. Further angering the Stars, the suspect calls greatly impacted the result on Sunday, leading to two powerplay goals.

With the score still tied at zero nearing the end of the second period, Foligno finished a check on Stars' Jani Hakanpaa. Still, officials ruled Foligno's hit was interference, giving Dallas the man advantage.

Car crash behind the net involving a moose#mnwild pic.twitter.com/rml2s8EuC4
— x - Minnesota Hockey (@MinnyHockey) April 24, 2023

With Dallas on the powerplay, Tyler Seguin scored 49 seconds later, giving the Stars a 1-0 lead.

In the third period, officials whistled Foligno for tripping Stars' Mason Marchment, a call perhaps more egregious than the first. However, this one may have lost Minnesota the game.

Marcus Foligno goes to the box for tripping Mason Marchment.

Thoughts on the call? pic.twitter.com/p6VqVItgD9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 24, 2023

By this point, the Stars had a 2-1 lead, but 1:08 into the ensuing powerplay, Dallas scored again off Seguin's second of the game, giving them a two-goal advantage with under five minutes to go.

Nearly two minutes after Dallas' goal, Frederick Gaudreau scored for the Wild, a tally that could've been the equalizer if not for another iffy penalty call on Foligno minutes earlier.

It's hard to blame officiating in a one-goal loss or complain about powerplays after having the advantage in opportunities (4-3). However, it's even harder to debate the impact officials may have had on the game.

The series between the Stars and Wild, now tied 2-2, moves to Dallas for Game 5 on Tuesday.

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