He wasn't wrong and he never should have taken it back. The officiating in the final five minutes was atrocious.

-McDonagh delay of game (pushed into goal by Van Riemsdyk)
-Callahan hauled down with empty net (called for diving...no wait, holding the stick)
-Penalty shot (the ref must have had x-ray vision to see a hand closed on the puck)

[mrshow.jpg]

I did think that it seemed they tried really hard to get it to the shootout that Bettmann loves so much.

/waiting for baseball games to end with a home run derby.

I usually hold a dim view of people who b*tch about officiating, be they fans or coaches or your mom, but I agree with him. Those closing moments of the game made it look like the the league was doing all they could to maximize the drama of their marquee moment. It looked and felt like a sham.

Yanks_RSJ: -Callahan hauled down with empty net (called for diving...no wait, holding the stick)

There was a replay from over the ref's shoulder where it looked like Callahan grabbed the guy's stick from around his midsection and brought it up high (about 0:42 in this video; new window). Slowed waaay down on this guy's DVR, it doesn't look as obvious as I remember it looking on the live replay (nevermind at real speed).

Was the original call "Diving," or was that just the TV people guessing at what was being called?

/Rangers fan
//Referee
///I'm not saying I agree, I'm sayin I understand
/Five-minute major for slashies.

robertus: There was a replay from over the ref's shoulder where it looked like Callahan grabbed the guy's stick from around his midsection and brought it up high (about 0:42 in this video; new window). Slowed waaay down on this guy's DVR, it doesn't look as obvious as I remember it looking on the live replay (nevermind at real speed).

Trying to shed a blatant hook to chase down a puck he caromed past the defender on his way to an empty-netter is not a penalty. It's not like he grabbed it with his hand, the stick was in his arm because the defender put it there to interfere. If he doesn't, Callahan gets to the puck and buries it.

By the way, referee #29 is Ian Walsh. Born May 9, 1972, Philadelphia, PA.

I wasn't expecting a rather informal headline of "Torts apologizes...." from the league website.

Three hockey threads on the sports page at once, this is awesome!

So, how many games is Carcillo going to get? How about Bourque, both of them have been suspended this year.

robertus: Was the original call "Diving," or was that just the TV people guessing at what was being called?

Call on the ice was holding the stick. That said, the hook would've been called if he hadn't brought his arm up and made like he'd been shot by a sniper.

The only really poor call was the delay of game for dislodging the net, and as a Caps fan, I know something about defenders getting run into and the refs screwing us over.

The penalty shot was the correct call. The rules state that you cannot cover, fall on, or gather the puck into your body in the crease as a skater. He clearly gathered that puck away from the goal line and under himself. See the relevant rule:

67.4 Penalty Shot - If a defending player, except a goalkeeper, while play is in progress, falls on the puck, holds the puck, picks up the puck, or gathers the puck into his body or hands from the ice in the goal crease area, the play shall be stopped immediately and a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team.

lunchinlewis: LineNoise: swahnhennessy: I usually hold a dim view of people who b*tch about officiating, be they fans or coaches or your mom, but I agree with him. Those closing moments of the game made it look like the the league was doing all they could to maximize the drama of their marquee moment. It looked and felt like a sham.

How the hell was that not a penalty shot in your mind?

From all the angles I saw, none showed how the puck was moved out of the crease.

Canttellifserious.jpg

change1211: Three hockey threads on the sports page at once, this is awesome!

So, how many games is Carcillo going to get? How about Bourque, both of them have been suspended this year.

The league's just gonna spend a month trying to get the Carcillo hearing "logistics" figured out. Then they'll give him 10 games

/hope

Didn't see the elbow by Bourque.

You misspelled "best" there, subby.

Alright, just saw the highlights on the Bourque elbow. He chickenwinged Backstrom and aimed for the head. Utter BS play.

If Backstrom has a concussion Bourque will should be out for a long, long time.

jekostas: change1211: Three hockey threads on the sports page at once, this is awesome!

So, how many games is Carcillo going to get? How about Bourque, both of them have been suspended this year.

The league's just gonna spend a month trying to get the Carcillo hearing "logistics" figured out. Then they'll give him 10 games

/hope

Didn't see the elbow by Bourque.

It'll be interesting because it looks like he got himself hurt on that play. How does it work if a player is injured and suspended?

"We want to keep a guy like that in our lineup, so it's tough to lose him so quickly," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "He's an effective player for us."

Said coach Joel Quenneville: "His leash is definitely a lot shorter than most every player in the league. It's tough finding that right balance, but from our perspective, he's doing everything we want."

Huh, seems like the Blackhawks are okay with his play but I guess they have to stand up for their teammate.

change1211: jekostas: change1211: Three hockey threads on the sports page at once, this is awesome!

So, how many games is Carcillo going to get? How about Bourque, both of them have been suspended this year.

The league's just gonna spend a month trying to get the Carcillo hearing "logistics" figured out. Then they'll give him 10 games

/hope

Didn't see the elbow by Bourque.

It'll be interesting because it looks like he got himself hurt on that play. How does it work if a player is injured and suspended?

I believe the suspension would come in to effect once the disciplined player is medically cleared to play, and it must be served at the NHL level - he can't serve his suspension in the AHL or other leagues.

Don't quote me on that though, I really don't feel like digging through the CBA and figuring it out.

change1211:

Huh, seems like the Blackhawks are okay with his play but I guess they have to stand up for their teammate.

Just toeing the team line, no big surprises there. Personally I think Carcillo (like Ben Eager) hurts teams way, way more than they help them. Carcillo's lucky he got tossed out of that game - Edmonton's got a surprising number of thugs, any of whom would have been happy to get their hands on him.

Tainted love?

I'm in agreement over the penalty shot like pretty much everyone else. But how the hell do you get called for Delay of Game when you are pushed into your own goalie?? It's just like getting called for Goaltender Interference when you're pushed into the opposing goalie and you can't control yourself.

Then...How the hell does Callahan get called for "Holding the Stick" when he's pretty much getting clothes-lined. What, was he "holding" the stick by biting it??

NYRangers68: I'm in agreement over the penalty shot like pretty much everyone else. But how the hell do you get called for Delay of Game when you are pushed into your own goalie?? It's just like getting called for Goaltender Interference when you're pushed into the opposing goalie and you can't control yourself.

Then...How the hell does Callahan get called for "Holding the Stick" when he's pretty much getting clothes-lined. What, was he "holding" the stick by biting it??

I was at a Sharks vs Ducks game and I watched a Shark get tripped up when he didn't have the puck and go sliding into the feet of a Duck and then get called for tripping. Sometimes refs make mistakes.

Refs in all sports call the game to be a closer, more exciting contest. Also the elite athletes are given preferential treatment. More news at 11.

robertus: Yanks_RSJ: -Callahan hauled down with empty net (called for diving...no wait, holding the stick)

There was a replay from over the ref's shoulder where it looked like Callahan grabbed the guy's stick from around his midsection and brought it up high (about 0:42 in this video; new window). Slowed waaay down on this guy's DVR, it doesn't look as obvious as I remember it looking on the live replay (nevermind at real speed).

Was the original call "Diving," or was that just the TV people guessing at what was being called?

/Rangers fan
//Referee
///I'm not saying I agree, I'm sayin I understand
/Five-minute major for slashies.

Pretty sure original call was grabbing the stick, embellishment could have been called as well. It was a legit call. Diving was announcers being reactionary.

Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque has been suspended five games for his elbow to the head of Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom in Tuesday's game.

Five isn't too bad considering he's a repeat offender.

I didn't have a horse in this race but I feel the same standard of officiating should be used throughout all aspects of the game.

Every hockey fan has watched their team get hosed by a no goal call when all common sense and logical conclusion = the puck is across the line. However, if one of the media's camera angles doesn't show it at the appropriate angle or the goalie does a great job manipulating things you get screwed. The war room will issue a statement that says it has to be "conclusive" meaning you have to SEE it unequivocally.

My issue with the penalty shot call is the "conclusive" criteria was not met. You can logically assume it happened. It makes all the sense in the world to assume that covering the puck occurred but I do not recall seeing a replay that showed "conclusive evidence" that Callahan committed said infraction.

/ Why does the NHL rely on the media to provide video coverage for the sake of rulings?
// Why are said cameras not uniformly placed in all arenas (providing all games with the same angles)
/// Why does Bettman still have a job with the league
//// Shanaban for repeat slashies

I also made the statement that the officiating was suspect for the sake of Winter Classicness while watching the third. Nice to know that the professionals could see what I saw.

/ Torts lost my respect when he apologized for calling what he saw

As a Rangers fan, I was screaming bloody murder at my TV after those "craptacular" calls, calling the refs biased. I'm perfectly justified in doing it since I'm just a fan.

Torts really should have kept his mouth shut. He insinuated a conspiracy between the NHL and NBC during NBC's post game. Completely unprofessional and he deserves a fine (I do think $30,000 is a bit harsh; hopefully Dolan will pay it with money he finds in his couch).

change1211: Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque has been suspended five games for his elbow to the head of Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom in Tuesday's game.

Five isn't too bad considering he's a repeat offender.

200k in salary for a stupid hit.

Carcillo gets 7 games.

He deserved *way* more.

This is exactly why I don't think the winter classic should count as a game.

keylock71: jekostas: Carcillo gets 7 games.

He deserved *way* more.

That seems light...

Bruins having a pretty good night in New Jersey so far tonight.

Damn, that Bergeron goal was pretty!!

Well, both the Bruins/Devils and the Habs/Jets games went straight to stupid and right quick didn't they.

keylock71: Shawn Thornton makes it a six pack!

Gotta love it when the home crowd cheers for the "1 minute remaining in the period" announcement...