Whistle muddles end of Columbus Blue Jackets' loss to Boston Bruins

Q: What controversial officiating call affected the Blue Jackets' game against the Bruins?

A whistle was blown by referee Gord Dwyer before the final faceoff, leading players to believe the play had stopped, which may have impacted the game's outcome.

Q: Who is Zach Werenski and what did he say about the officiating in the game?

Zach Werenski is a defenseman for the Blue Jackets, and he expressed confusion over the referee's dual whistle, stating it led him to think the play was stopped.

Q: How did the Blue Jackets perform in their previous game against the Montreal Canadiens?

The Blue Jackets won their previous game against the Montreal Canadiens with a score of 5-2, despite a controversial overturned goal for goaltender interference.

Q: What was the final score of the Blue Jackets' game against the Bruins?

The final score of the Blue Jackets' game against the Bruins was 3-2 in favor of Boston.

At each end of their final back-to-back of the season, the Blue Jackets were on the wrong side of controversial officiating calls.

More: Columbus Blue Jackets stumble against Boston Bruins. Replay

The first, an overturned goal for goaltender interference April 11 in Montreal, didn’t impact the outcome of the Jackets’ 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. The second might've impacted how the Jackets’ gutting 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins ended April 12 at Nationwide Arena, but how much will never be known.

That’s because NHL referees Gord Dwyer and Jon McIsaac declined to blow a play dead or restart it after Dwyer gave his whistle a short tweet before the final faceoff with 19 seconds left in the Bruins’ zone. Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, standing nearby, thought the play was being stopped as Dwyer skated to the Boston bench to ask about using a timeout.

“He blew the whistle twice,” Werenski said. “Yeah, he did. That’s why I turned. He’s a great ref and that’s not why we lose the game. I have nothing but respect for him, but I was very confused because, you know, you hear two whistles go behind you, the play stops. So, I look and he’s obviously talking to the (Bruins’) coach about a timeout.”

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) appeals to officials after time expires in the third period of the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on April 12, 2026. the Blue Jackets lost 3-2.

An NHL spokesman confirmed to the Dispatch that Dwyer tried to get the attention of the Bruins’ bench by briefly blowing his whistle to see if they wanted to take a timeout. The league's officials consider that standard protocol late in close games. As Dwyer spoke to the Bruins, however, Werenski noticed the puck was in play after Boston's Mark Kastelic won the draw against Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan.

The went slid behind the Boston net in the left-wing corner before a Bruin rimmed it all the way around the boards toward the Jackets’ zone. After twirling his left arm in the air to signal that he felt the play should’ve be stopped, Werenski hustled back to break up a potential empty-net goal seconds before time ran out.

After the horn, he tried unsuccessfully to plead his case to Dwyer before seeking an explanation from the other referee, Jon McIsaac. Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness told reporters his bench was told by the officials that no whistle was blown, so they couldn't issue a coaching challenge to review it.

As for Dwyer, replays shown on FanDuel Sports Network's Columbus broadcast show that he didn't notice play ongoing until he was fully in a conversation at the Boston bench.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) leaves the ice following the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on April 12, 2026. the Blue Jackets lost 3-2.

He quickly hustled down the ice to officiate the last few seconds. According to the league spokesman, once Dwyer noticed the puck was in play and heading back toward the Blue Jackets’ zone, he judged that his attempt to get the Boston bench’s attention did not affect the outcome of the play.

So, the game ended.

Werenski respectfully disagreed with Dwyer's decision while pointing to the Blue Jackets’ late comeback win April 7 against the Detroit Red Wings, when Adam Fantilli’s 6-on-5 goal off a faceoff play with 16.2 seconds left forced overtime at Little Caesar’s Arena.

“We score in Detroit with 16 seconds left off a faceoff play, and who’s to say we don’t keep it in (on a restarted faceoff) and score?” he said. “I mean, I guess that’s not the reason we lose, but the whistle gets blown twice before the puck’s dropped. Even after it’s dropped, it gets blown twice. I hear it and I turn my attention to (Dwyer), and the next thing I know we’re chasing it and the game’s over.”

His hope of having it reviewed fell flat.

“I think it’s an unfortunate ending, but I don’t know why they can’t just go back and watch it, find that he blows it and put time back on,” Werenski said. “But I guess that wasn’t in the cards.”

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) leaves the ice following the third period of the NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on April 12, 2026. the Blue Jackets lost 3-2.

The Blue Jackets making it to the playoffs this season likely isn't either. They now need to win in their season finale April 14 against the Washington Capitals and get help from the Philadelphia Flyers losing their final two games in regulation April 13-14 against the Carolina Hurricanes and Canadiens.

"Just get ready for (Washington)," Werenski said. "A lot rides on (April 13) with Philly and what happens there. We'll get some rest, watch (the Flyers), hopefully we're still in it (afterward) and play a playoff-type game against Washington with both teams battling."

lue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Whistle muddles end of Columbus Blue Jackets' loss to Boston Bruins