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:
