“Well, he was just an inch offside this time, so we’ll let it go.”
“Well, this was more like two inches, but we allowed that last one, so…”
“OK, he was offside by a foot, but that was 2 minutes ago, so we’ll let this one slide.”
I mean, a rule has to be a rule. They should never have brought in the video review for offside in the first place, but now that it’s here, they have to apply it fairly and consistently. Besides you have to burn your one and only timeout per game to call a challenge like this. It’s not really that time consuming: apart from last night!
It’s not a matter of being offside or not. It’s a matter of allowing a challenge of a goal. Personally I don’t think that challenge should be permitted, because very often (usually?) the challenge is of a goal that was scored quite a long time after the offsides, by a different player, after some passing, and which in no way assisted the goal to be scored.
I still call BS. All through the playoffs they have made an issue of whether the skate was on the ice when the puck crossed the line. From those replays it was impossible to tell. I seriously doubt that Toronto has their own cameras with higher definition. Everyone is seeing the same thing. The only thing Toronto has to offer is an explanation of the rule and input into who they want to win.
The call of a goal was made on the ice by the refs. There was no irrefutable evidence to overturn the call.
Well, that’s nice, but you’re wrong.
I’m on my phone now but if you look at the NHL web site, under something like “Coaches Challenge” you’ll see that the correct call was made.
Are you sure you’re not on the National HahaULoseSucka League home page. I went to the NHL.com page, hit search and typed in “coaches challenge”. Nothing of any relevance came up.
Puck Daddy, a highly regarded hockey blog seemed to think the call was incorrect.
If it takes three or four goddamn minutes to re-examine the replay, it’s not definitively obvious the play was offside. And it wasn’t.
If it was CLEAR that he was offside, the the rules say you call the play back. I’d adjust the rules if I was king of hockey to not allow challenges of goals scored on plays where the offside didn’t affect the likelihood of a goal - but that is a different issue, and right now the rules are what they are. Even if it was clear he was offside by one inch, he’s offside; the rule is that it is. But it was NOT clear. So it shouldn’t have been overturned.
Then install 4 high def ice level offside cameras (embedded in the boards). Yes, they could still be blocked by those on the ice, but that would be a step in the right direction. Precedent in the tennis world (with their high speed high def replay cameras).
A smack-down of the Penguins! Just what the Preds needed. Nashville is totally rocking. Not bad for a city where it was said that an NHL franchise couldn’t survive. They could have filled Nissan Stadium.
Due to a series of unpredictable consequences I have a ticket for Monday night. It should be amazing! Can’t wait.
Now, the big question for Game 5. Who will sing the national anthem? I have a close friend who is totally into country music. The prediction is Reba McIntyre. Does Vegas have a line on this?
It’s pretty bad when Alan Jackson can’t get in to sing the national anthem, so he does a free concert outside. I’m thinking maybe Dolly would be cool. Hank Jr. was 7th Man last night, so it won’t be him.
Wow lucky duck to check it out.
Will look for the “R.P. McMurphy says hi to the Dope!” sign.
Predicting Susan Boyle will sing the anthem.
Roseanne Barr?
Also, when the announcer says “One minute left in the period”, the crowd chants in unison “Thanks, Paul”. I think it’s the coolest chant I’ve ever heard, even moreso than Liverpool’s “Never Walk Alone” or West Ham’s “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”:p, despite the total apples/oranges:p comparison.
I’ll be surprised if Murray lets in more than two goals tomorrow.
Now, as a Bruins fan, I may be biased, but I did watch him a lot, and I agree with this. Especially his first few years, he was an expert at giving the extra push, stick-poke, I’m-not-tripping-you-but-my-foot-got-underneath-you-and-you-fell-over crap, and then insta-diving on any response, usually drawing a penalty. The last couple years in Montreal, it seemed like the referees thankfully got wise to that act and he drew a lot fewer calls.
So, yeah, I’m all for being exuberant, and all for more under-represented types of any kind in hockey, but don’t like cheap shots getting rewarded.
Indeed - colour me Steven Gutenberg (who I always thought had an annoying expression of incredulity in most of his roles)
::self-consciously checks breath in palm of hand::
Guentzel had a slew of scoring chances in the first two periods. That was cool hearing Matt “Mr. Composure” Murray yelling “What the fuck was that?” at the ref when players collided with him near the end of the game.
(Colour announcer Craig Simpson: Not sure if folks could hear him at home.
Play-by-play announcer Jim Hughson: And he wasn’t too polite at that!)
Crosby’s goal was classy.
“Sudden death in hockey in the most exciting thing in sports, plain and simple.”
Charles Barkley, to Scott Oake in second intermission.
or West Ham’s “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”:p, despite the total apples/oranges:p comparison.