NHL Referee Kevin Pollock dancing the YMCAWatching the game was like chewing a baked coffee bean. Or chomping unsweetened chocolate. The final score showed the Sharks ahead 4-3, with a 2-0 lead in the series, but I refuse to believe they've distinguished themselves in any facet other than faceoffs.
The Red Wings lost last night in inglorious fashion. As John pointed out in the previous post, San Jose benefitted from a shocking 10 power plays. Yet, it's not the sheer number that leaves the bitter taste. It was the way the San Jose players were rewarded for embellishing every hit, check, nudge, and push. The worst offender was goalie, Evgeni Nabokov. When Bertuzzi and Abdelkader charged the net, Nabokov crumbled to the ice as if he received a body blow from Clubber Lang. Bertuzzi also received a holding penalty when a Shark player apparently slipped in front of him.
Folks, I make no bones about being a Red Wing fan. No doubt I'm especially angry about these calls going against my team. But as Grissom says on CSI, "I tend not to believe people. People lie. The evidence doesn't lie." The evidence showed a dive-happy Shark team taking full advantage of the gullible referees. And it won them the game. I should say, shamefully won them the game.
The Wings entered the third period with a 3-2 lead. The Bertuzzi "holding" call gave the Sharks a power play. Then Kronwall broke Pavelski's stick - a no-brainer penalty that was deserved. Another 5-on-3 for the Sharks. After a few stops by Howard, the Sharks finally tied it. Minutes later, with the Red Wings pressuring, Lidstrom reached back for a blue-line slap-shot. His stick shattered on contact. The Sharks quickly intercepted the puck and raced down the ice for a 3-on-1. Howard stopped the first shot, and Thornton buried the rebound.
That was the game.
10 power plays and Lidstrom's shattered stick. Hard to feel good about this series. Most of the time, when my team loses -- after the initial disappointment wears off -- I see the game more objectively and appreciate that the better team won. Last season's series against the Penguins was a true heartbreaker. It was a massive blow losing Game 7, but I have to give the Penguins credit. They were the better team. When it mattered most, they took it to the Wings.
Last night was a different story. With twenty minutes - a full period - of power play for the Sharks, the Wings had no chance to win. Not against a top team like the Sharks.
I've railed against the refs often on this blog. If you come here often, you know that I not only accept bitching about the refs, but I encourage it. They may not decide the result, but they do influence it. The refs allowed the diving Sharks to turn a competitive game into a joke. For shame, refs. For shame, Sharks. Soccer players got nothing on you:
The Red Wings lost last night in inglorious fashion. As John pointed out in the previous post, San Jose benefitted from a shocking 10 power plays. Yet, it's not the sheer number that leaves the bitter taste. It was the way the San Jose players were rewarded for embellishing every hit, check, nudge, and push. The worst offender was goalie, Evgeni Nabokov. When Bertuzzi and Abdelkader charged the net, Nabokov crumbled to the ice as if he received a body blow from Clubber Lang. Bertuzzi also received a holding penalty when a Shark player apparently slipped in front of him.
Folks, I make no bones about being a Red Wing fan. No doubt I'm especially angry about these calls going against my team. But as Grissom says on CSI, "I tend not to believe people. People lie. The evidence doesn't lie." The evidence showed a dive-happy Shark team taking full advantage of the gullible referees. And it won them the game. I should say, shamefully won them the game.
The Wings entered the third period with a 3-2 lead. The Bertuzzi "holding" call gave the Sharks a power play. Then Kronwall broke Pavelski's stick - a no-brainer penalty that was deserved. Another 5-on-3 for the Sharks. After a few stops by Howard, the Sharks finally tied it. Minutes later, with the Red Wings pressuring, Lidstrom reached back for a blue-line slap-shot. His stick shattered on contact. The Sharks quickly intercepted the puck and raced down the ice for a 3-on-1. Howard stopped the first shot, and Thornton buried the rebound.
That was the game.
10 power plays and Lidstrom's shattered stick. Hard to feel good about this series. Most of the time, when my team loses -- after the initial disappointment wears off -- I see the game more objectively and appreciate that the better team won. Last season's series against the Penguins was a true heartbreaker. It was a massive blow losing Game 7, but I have to give the Penguins credit. They were the better team. When it mattered most, they took it to the Wings.
Last night was a different story. With twenty minutes - a full period - of power play for the Sharks, the Wings had no chance to win. Not against a top team like the Sharks.
I've railed against the refs often on this blog. If you come here often, you know that I not only accept bitching about the refs, but I encourage it. They may not decide the result, but they do influence it. The refs allowed the diving Sharks to turn a competitive game into a joke. For shame, refs. For shame, Sharks. Soccer players got nothing on you:
It's just frustrating that the NHL makes so many second-rate decisions, and refuses to admit mistakes or embarrassments at every level, so that when there is terrible officiating, there is no recourse, or no admitting that there was a mistake. So it leaves those teams and cities who continually get screwed (Buffalo, Detroit, every Canadian team, most big market teams) incredibly bitter at Bettman, league management, and the officials; and gives them plenty of ammunition for conspiracy theories, for their favorable treatment of small market teams, southern teams, financially struggling teams, and the saviors of the league (Crosby, Ovechkin, the Blackhawks).
ReplyDeleteAnd I still haven't gotten a good explanation on the Franzen interference call in Game 1 when he should have drawn a 4 minute double minor when he was cut by a high stick. That penalty led the the 5v3 which led to the Sharks goal.
Could not agree more, Cliff's Notes.
ReplyDeleteThere is zero accountability.
This situation reminds me of a small blurb I read a few weeks ago. I'm sure you remember the Tigers/Twins playoff game last season... in the 12th inning when Inge was hit by the pitch with the bases loaded. It would've given the Tigers a 1-run lead, but the umpire did not give Inge the base. Replays showed the ball clipped his shirt.
A few weeks later, the umpire, Randy Marsh, called Leyland and apologized for the mistake. As a fan, I really respect that. Not only are umpires the gold standard when it comes to refereeing, but they copped to a mistake! Of course, the apology doesn't change the outcome, but it does remove the bitter aftertaste.
That apology would NEVER EVER EVER happen in the NHL. Instead, we get stupid crap like "I waved off the (perfectly legit) goal because I intended to blow my whistle (but didn't)".
I love hockey. It's perhaps the most exhilarating sport in the world. It's just a shame that it's run by such an awful organization.
Forgot to post the link to the article about the umpire's apology...
ReplyDeletehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/02/umpire-randy-marsh-apologizes-to-jim-leyland.html.php
This whole "intended to blow the whistle" thing is a load of crap. What was keeping you from blowing it if you intended to blow it? Were you eating peanut butter and you couldn't pry your lips apart? Were your dentures about to fall out? Were you high and just thinking about White Castle sliders and realized you were officiating a playoff game?
ReplyDelete"Yeah, IRS, I meant to pay my taxes."
"Oh yeah, I meant to call you after our date last month."
"I intended to give you a gift for our anniversary."
It just doesn't work.
And what's the statute of limitations?
ReplyDelete"Last week, I intended to call a high-stick on the Shark player and not Franzen since Franzen was actually cut... "
Can they do that? Why not? It makes as much sense as the current rule.