Eyes likely will be on the officiating as much as the game Thursday night between the Red Wings and Nashville Predators.
Referee Tim Peel was caught on a microphone during Tuesday's Red Wings-Predators game saying he "wanted" to call a penalty on the Predators. He was removed by the NHL on Wednesday from officiating future games.
Reached by The Detroit News on Thursday morning, Peel said “this is a private and personal matter” and declined an interview request.
Peel was set to retire in April 24, according to Canadian sports network TSN.
Peel called Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson for tripping at 4:56 of the second period, a call that caught the attention of broadcasters and people on social media.