Devils’ Joseph Blandisi Causes Embellishment Penalty After Big Dive

New Jersey Devils Centerman Joseph Blandisi received a penalty for embellishment during Tuesday’s 6-3 home loss against the Philadelphia Flyers after an egregious dive.

Devils’ Joseph Blandisi Causes Embellishment Penalty After Big Dive

Blandisi leaped into the air after the Flyers’ Andrew MacDonald slashed him in the back of the knee midway through the first period. MacDonald was also sent to the penalty box, which led to a four-on-four for two minutes.

The officials called the embellishment penalty on Blandisi after soundly deciding that although a hit to the back of the leg probably hurt, his reaction seemed very exaggerated.

According to some NHL officials, Blandisi later confessed that he should have reacted differently to the slash, and that he simply wanted to make sure the referee had noticed it. He also publicly apologized via Twitter, stating: “Apologizing for my actions tonight, the game should never be taken advantage of like that.”

The Devils are now 29-22-7 this season, while the Flyers are 25-21-10.

PHOTO: NEWARK, NJ – FEBRUARY 14: Joseph Blandisi #64 of the New Jersey Devils in action against Trevor Lewis #22 of the Los Angeles Kings at the Prudential Center on February 14, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Kings 1-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)