Referee Dave Jackson Signs with Montreal Canadiens (Humor)

Introducing the newest member of the Montreal Canadiens...Dave Jackson.

He wears the No. 8 shirt, sporting the traditional black and white striped referee colours. On the night of Saturday, Dec. 20, however, he may as well have worn a red and blue jersey.

Jackson was officiating his 1,000th NHL regular season game, and it was one to remember.

Where to begin?

The Buffalo Sabres were visiting the Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Early in the second period, Jackson put Toni Lydman in the penalty box on a cheap holding call, resulting in a five-on-three power play. Sergei Kostitsyn would go on to score to level the game 1-1.

Alex Tanguay scored an early equalizer in the third period, with Ryan Miller looking to have been interfered with a little.

Jackson didn't raise his arm, but Matt Ellis' apparent interference on Jaroslav Halak for breezing by his pad with the goalie out of the crease was enough to make the criteria late in the second.

What few power plays the Sabres did receive, they managed to take advantage of with quick shots to the net. With the game in overtime, Robert Lang scored after knocking the net off.

Immediately a no goal by Jackson was signaled, as the puck clearly crossed the line after the net was off its moorings. Hats off to the referee for doing his job on this one occasion.

However, he awarded the Canadiens another power play late in overtime by indicating Jochen Hecht was holding. Alexei Kovalev capitalized with the game-winner, and the Bell Centre was all cheers.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff wasn't too happy with the calls.

"You're going to have to show me where Jochen is holding somebody," Ruff said. "Somebody is going to have to show me what Toni did to make it five-on-three...because for the most part our discipline was pretty good. I can't find anything."

Indeed, there didn't seem to be anything wrong with those two plays. So, Jackson—the native of Montreal (coincidence?)—performed his duties well to give the Canadiens two points.

Even Guy Carbonneau had to be pleased with the level of effort Jackson showed, and the high-fives after the match were living proof.

Rumour has it the Canadiens are offering Jackson an entry-level contract for his services.

In all honesty, though, it doesn't seem right having a referee officiating a match in which his city is involved. Ugly penalties are occurring everywhere, and Mr. Jackson seems to be the new poster boy representing them.

Just another reason the NHL is losing fans.