Staal frustrated with ref's apology after controversial no call

Eric Staal was apparently very upset postgame when asked about Josh Morrissey's cross-check to the side of his head, which didn't draw a penalty.

The veteran Minnesota Wild forward revealed that the official in question apologized to him for missing the Winnipeg Jets defenseman's apparent infraction, but that's not what Staal was interested in.

"He apologized. I'm not looking for an apology," he said, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo. "I'm in the middle of the game, why would I want an apology? It's frustrating. It is what it is. Tough. I'm all for playing hard, I love it, it's part of the game, but that wasn't a good play."

Morrissey called it a "complete accident," said he was trying to box Staal out, and insisted he's not a dirty player and "would never try and hurt anybody," according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

The blue-liner caught Staal with the cross-check late in the first period. Staal went off to the bench in obvious discomfort but returned and ultimately led Wild forwards in ice time with 20:12.

Copyright (C) 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.