They probably thought that Dumbass hits his shoulder but that pushes the stick into Joe's head, and we all know the Stars will never get another high sticking call in their favor ever, ever again.
I see head contact and am perplexed by the number of MN fans and others who say it didn't happen, i.e., "Who are you going to trust....me or your own eyes?" It is frustrating after seeing so many other hits earn suspensions (I know not all do) for similar hits, it seems as if the league says, "Yeah, it was late, but not late enough. Yeah, he left his feet, but not really enough until after the contact, to be a penalty", and he got hit in the head, but he also caught the shoulder, so that wasn't good enough for a penalty." Not to mention that hit was totally unnecessary, but it was the Stars and in the PO, so its gonnar be alright. The second worst is the threads posted by MN fans on the main board about Suter's dirty cross checks, as if they are anywhere near the same level of offense. Granted, the refs didn't call those either.
I am still steamed about it, even while admitting that it didn't affect the game as penalties evened up, Stars kept playing better and better, etc. It may affect the entire series. Oh yeah, it won't change DFW perceptions that the suits in the NE really do pull strings, probably thinking MSP is a better TV market than DFW for them.
Let's just move on and hope the Stars respond "the right way" (which should include as many goals as possible, and if the situation occurs, some nice, legal, but hard checks to Dumba.) Of course, in the NHL, the retaliation calls are very typical, and I expect the refs to really be watching the Stars for everything because they need to "keep the game in check" and recall that retribution is not a good excuse to make an illegal hit. Short version, I think we will be skating 5 on 9 all night, except on the PK, when it will be 4 against 9. Maybe more, if we figure Toronto will get involved again.