 Sinden considered the first period of the first Swedish game the team 's worst since the team was put together , but the team improved and started to take command . Henderson , Clarke , Cashman and Parise scored . Sinden criticized the German referees : " ... they were absolutely terrible . They couldn 't even skate . They were miles behind the play all night and don 't know the damn rules . Their incompetence helped the game become very bitter . " The players were also introduced to the style of play of the Swedes , who were well used to using stick work to throw off their opponents . " They were spearing , holding , interfering , and most of all , backstabbing . " The Canadian players would retaliate and be penalized for their retribution . As an example of the referees ' incompetence , Sinden pointed out that Esposito had been penalized for cross @-@ checking , and given a misconduct for it . Sinden , who had played international ice hockey , knew that under international rules at the time , you could not give a misconduct for cross @-@ checking . 
