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The Potential Effects Of One Mistake
by IwoCPO on 05/15/08 at 06:49 AM ET
Comments (102)
There are a few housekeeping details we should square away before I get into this. First, there is no chance in Hell the Wings lose this series. None. Stress about it. Ruminate and discuss. But, sorry, ain’t gonna happen.
Second. The disallowed goal wasn’t the only reason the Wings lost. Did it contribute? Yes. Greatly. But the Stars played well. They were determined and, frankly, they played like they wanted that game a bit more than the Wings.
For the first time this series, they outhit the Wings 24-23 (according to the stat sheet, which typically favors the home team). Their faceoffs were better, winning 43%. They still didn’t muster any sort of shot total (22). But the ones they put on Osgood were tough ones. The first twelve minutes were theirs, and Osgood kept Detroit in it.
Dallas hustled, hit and played better on the worst ice in the NHL.
And there’s my objectivity for the day. I guess that’s required of me from time to time, a little non-bias, some open-minded thinking. Well, if you’re looking for more of that in this post, you’d better stop reading.
Because the Wings were shafted last night. Bent over by Kelly Sutherland and violated while Little Gary Bettman stood on four phone books and grinned like some sort of fiend who doesn’t even understand what he’s watching. So much that is wrong with the NHL can be explained by that one call.
Coaches, media, players complain about Tomas Holmstrom. In some cases, it’s justifiable. We’ve all seen legitimate interference calls take Red Wing goals away. But more often, way more often, the calls are bogus and we see the scoreboard unjustly affected. Last night’s was a travesty.
The Wings get that goal and the whole tone of the game is established. They withstand the initial rush, pop one, demoralize an already fragile Dallas team. I fully believe that had that counted, as it should have, the Wings win that game.
Nope. The whispers were in Bettman’s ears, Daly’s, Campbell’s. And those whispers turned to strong suggestions when they reached the difference-making level: the refs. I said it last night in the live blog. That call was the result of a mindset. Sutherland had it in his head that if the Wings scored with Homer anywhere near that crease, he was calling it off. It was so blatantly wrong, there can be no other explanation.
And your commissioner endorses that kind of judgment. It’s no better than pro wrestling. Anyone who saw that play knows what a travesty it was, knows how wrong Sutherland was. And we all know that replay, had it been used, would have overturned it. But…replay’s not allowed in that situation.
Why not Gary? How many goals are bogusly overturned? How many more CONFERENCE FINAL games have to be affected?
Wings get that goal, they win the series. Over in four. Over on a Wednesday. Woops. A Wednesday, and not a Saturday on NBC? Can’t have that, can we Gary…you little frigging troll of a league-wrecking piece of garbage.
So the Peacock gets its game this Saturday, so it can pull in a 2.0 share while the few Americans who were riding the fence vow not to watch a sport so blatantly idiotically officiated.
Am I pissed the Wings lost? Yeah. I’m pissed that they didn’t play their best game and end this thing when they could have. All the Wing haters out there can laugh like Little Gary eating cotton candy while he cranes his neck to see over the 5’5” fan in front of him. But while you’re laughing, you’d better consider this: that was an example of just how far this league has sunk. Your NHL. Not just mine, or other Wing fans.
Game 5. Saturday. On NBC. Just like Gary wants.
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Comments
That call was disgusting and it made my guts hurt. Still makes them hurt, in fact. I agree that the game probably would have turned out a whole lot different. How in the hell that kind of call isn’t reviewable is beyond me. Every time I see Little Gary on tv my eye starts twitching and my hands curl into fists. When will they get Bettman out of there? And is there a more hated commish in all of sports? Really, is there?
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 05/15/08 at 09:11 AM ET
No conspiracy here, just a massive failure on the part of the officials, and a massive failure on the part of the league to not provide the team getting the shaft with a recourse (replay) to make it right.
Not that the odds are against it, but the league had better hope that the Wings take care of this series, ideally in game 5. If this thing gets taken to 6 or 7 games, and if the Stars win? Well, let’s just say the NHL will finally get the pub it’s wanted in the non-hockey, sports MSM. And it won’t be good.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 05/15/08 at 09:13 AM ET
Oh, and BTW, I can tell you why that play is not reviewable. Because if you allow that play to be reviewable, then you have to allow every play in the opposite fashion be reviewable. And you don’t want Turco asking for every single goal to be reviewed because he couldn’t see.
Not saying I agree with that logic, but I’m betting that’s the slippery slope argument the NHL would make.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 05/15/08 at 09:15 AM ET
Oh, and BTW, I can tell you why that play is not reviewable. Because if you allow that play to be reviewable, then you have to allow every play in the opposite fashion be reviewable. And you don’t want Turco asking for every single goal to be reviewed because he couldn’t see.
Good point. However, I think Paul pointed out that every goal is *already* reviewed. I’m not sure if the video replay judge has authority over the referee but perhaps they should. A quick call down to ice level asking for a few seconds to review the goal and off we go.
Posted by Osrt on 05/15/08 at 09:28 AM ET
Allegedly, Nate, every goal is reviewed, so placing goalie interference into the pot of calls that can be reviewed wouldn’t be a big deal. It would simply be a matter of the replay official up in the booth mashing the buzzer down to the scorers table telling them to hold up the next face-off for a second while they make sure.
Posted by O-Joe on 05/15/08 at 09:28 AM ET
Beat me, Osrt.
Posted by O-Joe on 05/15/08 at 09:29 AM ET
Even my friends who are Dive fans admitted to me that the Wings were majorly hosed last night. One of my friends said to me, “That game is a prime example of why the NHL loses fans.” Yes, but little Gary was there and must be so proud.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/15/08 at 09:36 AM ET
They only review every goal to determine if it went in legally (between the posts, across the line and not propelled in by anything beside a stick that was below the crossbar). They are not checking for penalties that should/should not have been called. Just like they won’t buzz down to the scorer’s table because they feel a slash occured as they goal developed, they aren’t going to buzz down because they feel the goalie was/wasn’t interfered with. Penalties are not reviewable, and while the goalie interference situation doesn’t always end up with a penalty, it still falls under illegal contact as opposed to illegal goal.
Posted by scsgoal31 from Huntington Woods, MI on 05/15/08 at 09:41 AM ET
If every goal is reviewable than that call should have been overturned. Anyone know if the replay booth gets the final say or not? I always hear announcers talking about the goal being reviewed in the war room in tornonto and wonder if they ever overturn the refs call. But then, we wouldn’t want it to seem like the refs blew the call in the first place, would we? I mean, that’s not why they have video replay in the first place. Is it?
I read an opinion somewhere else that the NHL has to be the #1 league in which fans know the names of the refs. Why? Because more times than not the game hinges on their little face time over by the scorekeepers box. Let’s face it, these guys aren’t refereeing. They’re managing the games plain and simple.
But I’ll let it go now and look forward to Friday’s, oh of course, Saturday’s game. Thanks, Gary. F$%^ing Ass.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 05/15/08 at 09:41 AM ET
Thanks, scsgoal31.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 05/15/08 at 09:43 AM ET
And we all know that replay, had it been used, would have overturned it. But…replay’s not allowed in that situation.
it most definitely is. I posted the rules last night. it clearly said the video goal judge is supposed to review EVERY goal and call down if there’s a problem - it’s his job to assist the referees to make sure every goal is a “good hockey goal”.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/15/08 at 09:54 AM ET
My sports hating wife was watching the game with me last night, so she could bend my ear about a weekend yard project during the intermission (for the record,I’m praying for rain).
She watched the denied goal replay a couple of times and told me, “You might as well be watching wrestling.”
I had to agree. All we were lacking was one of the managers whacking an opposing player with a folding chair when he skated too close to the wrong bench.
Posted by dougie on 05/15/08 at 09:54 AM ET
it most definitely is. I posted the rules last night. it clearly said the video goal judge is supposed to review EVERY goal and call down if there’s a problem - it’s his job to assist the referees to make sure every goal is a “good hockey goal”.
And yet there is this little gem at the end of the goaltender interference rule in the rule book
The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice
judgement of the Referee(s), and not by means of video replay or
review.
Posted by scsgoal31 from Huntington Woods, MI on 05/15/08 at 09:55 AM ET
@ scsgoal31
I think everyone understands that. The point is the refs are having trouble getting these goalie interference calls correct. It would only take rules committee action and Bettman signing off on it to make goalie interference calls/non-calls reviewable.
The problem there, of course, is that except for a handful of guys—Homer and Smyth, mainly—it’s not a league-wide problem. The other GMs would be screaming at Gary not to change the rule.
As an aside, remember the “new rules” that were supposed to take effect coming out of the lock-out? One part stated [allegedly] that D-men would no longer be able to clear the front of the crease with cross-checks and hacking and whacking-—that they would have to move their feet to try to nullify guys like Homer by establishing body position and/or stick-on-stick tie ups.
Well, we still see Homer getting crosschecked, hacked in the shins, donkey punched in the back of the head, etc., all without the calls being made. And we still see him getting legitimate goals being waived off.
Homer, Smyth in Colorado and anyone else trying to establish a net-front presence are getting f*cked in all this.
Posted by O-Joe on 05/15/08 at 09:59 AM ET
Accoding to an interview with Hank, he was told the goal was disallowed not because Homer’s butt was in the crease but because his butt was in Turdco’s face. If you look at the replay, you can see that his face is there because he put it there. He’s the one who moved out and stuck his nose up Homer’s butt.
That move may have gotten the goal waved off, but I don’t think that’s why he did it. I think he did it because he likes Homer’s butt, hence the name, Turdco. 
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 05/15/08 at 10:00 AM ET
ahhh, I didn’t read that section. I just looked at the video replay. they would seem to be contradictory clauses, IMO.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/15/08 at 10:00 AM ET
In NCAA hockey, that play is reviewable. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be feasible to implement reviewing that in the NHL.
Remember that the presence of an offensive player in the crease prior to the puck used to be reviewable when that rule was in place.
Posted by PRS on 05/15/08 at 10:02 AM ET
Conspiracy? Incompetency? Conspiracy? Incompetency? Conspiracy? Incompetency? Conspiracy? Incompetency? Conspiracy? Incompetency? Conspiracy? Incompetency?
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/15/08 at 10:08 AM ET
In NCAA hockey, that play is reviewable. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be feasible to implement reviewing that in the NHL.
Me neither. And it would do nothing to change the undertone of what we’ve come to expect from officiating in the playoffs.
You want a ‘let them play’ attitude be the prevailing undertone of playoff officiating? Fine. I’m good with that. But when someone is willing to get the shit beat out of them in the front of the net in exchange for a goal, there should be a method in place by which they are not short-changed for that sacrifice.
With goalie interference being reviewable, Homer gets a goal waived off in Game One, but gets an unofficial assist in a potentially series-clinching Game Four. I pretty damn okay with that.
Posted by O-Joe on 05/15/08 at 10:17 AM ET
I, for one, am not about to become a Red Wing Apologist (if you want a prime example, go read Mitch “I’m King Band-Wagoneer” Albom’s ridiculous column today). The Wing’s don’t need any freaking apologists or excuses. ScoreBoard MotherF@#cker’s - - a a dazzling 11 - 3 record in this post-season. Two losses to a determined NSH squad, and one to a determined DAL squad sporting a 7 on 5 most of the night (playing on ice of the kind you would typically find in a sno-cone).
C’mon, you really didn’t expect two series sweeps, did you. Nah, a split in DAL was realistic.
Having said all that, “The HighLander” makes an excellent point about the Datsyuk goal:
The unusual thing about Datsyuk’s goal being disallowed last night was that Holmstrom was not whistled for interference.
Were the Wings screwed—yeah you could say they got bent over and shafted sans KY. Did it cost them the game - Who the F@#k knows? Wings sure spent a lot of the 1st period in their own damn zone; kinda like they were skating in sand (well maybe they were). DAL played well, you haveta give them credit, they potted 3 last night.
What I’m hoping is that this loss pissed th Wings off big-time. A little adversity to keep them focused on the “big picture”. A little adversity now is way better than in the SCF. Learn from it Bitches! Learn from it and play ruthlessly—which they should have done last night.
5 is only slightly more than one-half of nine. Wings can certainly string together 5 wins in a row. Saturday is nothing more than a tune-up. Get the laser-intensity back.
Thanks Gary. Ass.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 05/15/08 at 10:20 AM ET
I’m going on record as saying that there should be an invesitgation into the gambling habits of certain refs.
Fine, no automatic reviews. The NHL needs to at least implement an NFL-style of challenge. Let a coach challenge one call/game, and if they’re wrong they lose their timeout, or they sit a man in the penalty box for 2 minutes…something.
Seeing Gary in the stands, wringing his hands like the Grinch who stole hockey, I seriously second guessed my love for this game.
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 05/15/08 at 10:30 AM ET
Yes I believe in conspiracy’s in both governmnet and the NHL. The bias is pretty obvious. Thanks Little Gary for making me stress the next couple of days.
But, like you Chief, I do not give a dam about the rest of the NHL. Only the Red Wings. I could care less in the NHL ever succeeds in places like Baton Rouge, Chattanooga, Plano, Oceanside, or Little Rock. I liked the size of the NHL just fine growing up in the 60’s and 70’s.
I guess this means I get to see the Douche Canoe Saturday.
Posted by Jeff from Loveland, CO on 05/15/08 at 10:37 AM ET
I hate Mitch the Whiny Bitch as much as the next Wings fan, but he’s right about the new life given to the Stars on that call.
Dallas was owning Detroit to that point and had absolutely nothing to show for it (thanks, Oz). That in and of itself was frustrating to them. No one can say for sure, of course, but working that hard only to find themselves down a goal would’ve been a huge morale buster. And from previous games we’ve seen how the Stars (particularly Marty Mind-Screwed) have, for the most part, turned to mush when that happens.
Posted by O-Joe on 05/15/08 at 10:38 AM ET
Heres an excellent blurb about the “Homer Incident”; from Greg Wyshynski at Yahoo Sports:
Goaltender interference calls in the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs have gone from sublime to ridiculous to absolute embarrassing. Tonight’s interference call against Holmstrom was, as Mike Babcock said, one based on reputation more than reality. And one in which the justification was that, in Babcock’s words, Holmstrom’s “butt was in the blue.” It’s a shame that a great Dallas effort will be overshadowed by discussion about Homer’s rump for the next two days.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 05/15/08 at 10:45 AM ET
Does NHL want Sunday hockey on NBC, too ? We’ll figure out tonight.
And what if the game Saturday goes to couple of OT’s. The same NBC will dump the game back to VERSUS, like last year.
Posted by Kosta from Surcin, Serbia on 05/15/08 at 10:49 AM ET
It’s a shame that a great Dallas effort will be overshadowed by discussion about Homer’s rump for the next two days.
Stars fans are real sensitive about that “no goal” thing in reference to Hull in 1999. They feel it taints their Cup, which is debatable. Interesting that should they come back and make a series out of this (a win Saturday would do that) or achieve the near-impossible (they won’t), they’d still, with the opposite connotation, have to listen to “no goal” being whispered in their ears.
Posted by O-Joe on 05/15/08 at 10:54 AM ET
I don’t care if the call is reviewable or not, I’m ok leaving penalties exclusively in the judgemnent of the officials. What I want is a more clearly defined rule.
Maybe make the blue completely off limits to attacking players(with the usual judgement about pushes). But make the goalie fair game to be bumped and checked anywhere outside the paint just like the other players on the ice.
So maybe that’t not a perfect solution either, but something needs to be done to remove some of the guess work and assumptions. Vague rules are just asking for controversy and pissed off fans.
Game 5 will also be on CBC, so there’s some relief from the asshats on NBC.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 05/15/08 at 11:06 AM ET
I had to watch this game on TIVO last night and missed out on all the LB discussion…can only imagine the furor this generated amongst the 19.
We got f’d. No way around it. And I’m pissed, but it’s rather grounding to think that in two days we’ll be back at the Joe…where the Stars should seriously contemplate swapping Martia out for a shooter-tutor…with a 3-1 lead and another two days to let the Mule rest his Monique-scale plus sized noggin.
The Wings played like shit last night. Too much time in our own zone, sloppy movement up ice and specific guys like Mac made dumb plays ...the kind that a team like the Pens will capitalize on when (WHEN) we get to the next round.
My hope for game five: A monstrous 08 playoffs coming out party by Cleary. Buckets is D.U.E. He was a FORCE last year. Underwhelming this year. He damn near got one in that last game. Imagine an awakened Cleary, a recharged Mule and a pissed off Homer in the finals. Dios mio.
Time to fire it back up, boys and girls. It’s the playoffs. 9 wins in 10 games…we’ve been spoiled rotten.
Posted by disch from bat country on 05/15/08 at 11:07 AM ET
Jeff - I was wondering about that too, if it was goalie interference why was there no penalty called? I don’t know, these officials sure have me scratching my head a lot this playoffs. Does anyone think it was a makeup for Game 1 when that goal should have been waived off?
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/15/08 at 11:11 AM ET
Maybe make the blue completely off limits to attacking players(with the usual judgement about pushes). But make the goalie fair game to be bumped and checked anywhere outside the paint just like the other players on the ice.
you mean how it used to be before Little Gary took over?
yep, it was awesome. goalies stayed in the crease where they belong, and players stayed out of it.
heh. I was looking for a video on YouTube of goalies getting run behind the net back in the 80s, and instead found this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J4BXrskeU0
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/15/08 at 11:25 AM ET
if it was goalie interference why was there no penalty called?
this isn’t that uncommon. there’s a gray area between “enough for a penalty” and “too much for a goal to count.”
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/15/08 at 11:27 AM ET
I missed most of the game as I was at a baseball game (free tickets are fun!) freezing my appendages off last night, but a couple of the screens were showing the game (muted) as everyone was wandering by.
I am very happy that I had the foresight to check my audiospace for small children, as the last thing a child needed to hear was my thoughts on the NHL officials, Gary and NBC, or Ott.
I’m afaid I wasn’t very nice - the middle-aged man standing next to me laughed his behind off, though. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/15/08 at 11:32 AM ET
At some point the collective powers of the NHL are going to realize that indefinite years with Bettman still in the commissioner’s chair will eventually completely destroy the league. When that realization happens, he will be thrown to the street like a drunk from a bar. If he were CEO of a corporation the size of the NHL, it would have gone bankrupt years ago. Let’s hope that day is sooner rather than later.
Posted by cis429 from Denver on 05/15/08 at 11:41 AM ET
you mean how it used to be before Little Gary took over?
Could you check the goalie outside of the crease back then? My memory is failing me.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 05/15/08 at 11:55 AM ET
That was the Beginning…
That was not the End…
http://hockeytowntodd.blogspot.com/2008/05/bad-calls-non-calls-and-unreviewable.html
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 05/15/08 at 11:59 AM ET
First off, Lil’ Gary had better hope someone, namely Detroit, takes care of business in regulation on Saturday. Yes, the game starts at 1:30 but their Preakness Stakes coverage is set to begin at 4:30. Lil’ Gary could have more problems on his hands should the game dip into more than one OT.
Secondly, Gary won’t get tossed out as commissioner anytime soon - not as long as the owners are all making money (somehow). They owe it all to Lil’ Gary the Napoleon of Hockey.
Posted by HockeyJoe from NY on 05/15/08 at 12:08 PM ET
Could you check the goalie outside of the crease back then? My memory is failing me.
hell yes. they used to get crushed behind the net if they wandered back there at the wrong time. maybe the rule was behind the goal line but not in front of it, not sure.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/15/08 at 12:14 PM ET
Here’s a viewing nightmare for NBC…
Game five goes into multiple overtimes.
Preakness features another unfortunate equine death.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/15/08 at 12:18 PM ET
Malik says that Ken Holland and Lil’ Gary will be talking to each other on The NHL Hour from 4-5 pm. I’m not going to be around. Anyone taking notes?
Posted by jrl123 on 05/15/08 at 12:19 PM ET
hell yes. they used to get crushed behind the net if they wandered back there at the wrong time. maybe the rule was behind the goal line but not in front of it, not sure.
My mom agrees with you.
“If they are real hockey players, then they should be able to take a check like a man. Otherwise stay in the damn crease where you belong!”
(Needless to say Hasek drives her batty.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/15/08 at 12:20 PM ET
cis429,
Couldn’t agree more. I wonder how many teams/team come out in the black each year. And then turn around and hand out to the lessers. But the collective powers won’t make any changes any time soon, more’s the pity. If the strike didn’t teach them anything, and it didn’t, there’s no hope. You wouldn’t try to take a national surfing league to omaha nebraska and expect it to flourish, would you? Seriously, would you? Oh…
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 05/15/08 at 12:20 PM ET
meh, we got screwed on that call, but we got the call in game 1 and a couple breaks in the nashille series…yes it p!sses me off but 1 play shouldn’t decide the fate of a game (unless in OT) the wings came out soft and slow last night, the first period was an atrocity to watch as a redwings fan. Got to give Dallas credit though they played harder and faster then us they fought harder for the loose pucks, kept us to the outside for the most part and generally just plaed the game we should have last night. Can’t wait for saturday watch the wings finish them off on home ice.
Posted by Jay from canada on 05/15/08 at 12:34 PM ET
DAL squad sporting a 7 on 5 most of the night
Because I’m such a one-sided fan I often wonder if I’m seeing “correctly,” but long before the disallowed goal I thought the same thing.
And what else can be said about a butt-in-the-crease call but “f**king joke.” We’re all supposed to believe that the Sutherland has such vision, such keen depth perception that he’s able to discern how far someone’s butt cheeks protrude while he’s standing half a rink away??? What a way for the league to look amateurish.
There was no ass in the crease. There was, however, an Ass in the stands.
But time to make that history—because it is history. Time for the Wings to focus whatever anger they harbor about the call, to focus whatever disappointment they may harbor about the rest of their game, to focus it all into determination and execution. Time to go out and put this series away. They’re more than a good enough team to do that despite the officiating.
Posted by BobTheZee on 05/15/08 at 12:35 PM ET
HTT, my thoughts exactly, and it’s one of the reasons the Pens scare me. But Little Gary’s not a stupid man, he’s not going to just hand Crosby the Cup before the first puck drops…but I won’t be surprised at all to see the refs tilt the ice a bit for them.
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 05/15/08 at 12:49 PM ET
Screw pro wrestling, the NHL is starting to resemble the NBA, where you get called for a foul just for sharing the same air space as someone like The Great LeBron (friggin pussy). Didn’t Little Gary do his apprenticeship under Little David Stern?
I just keep telling myself…Game 5 is at the Joe, and the Stars’ goalie is Marty Turco.
Posted by Matt from Chicago on 05/15/08 at 12:52 PM ET
“You might as well be watching wrestling.”
Indeed.
Wings forecheck was soft last nite. Crappy ice prevents the forwards from going deep. Wings hit total was down ... Rafalski’s gonna need a new set of hips in June. Stars played like they were possessed. Fear will do that to you. Come to teh Joe and let’s skate.
Conspiracy? Just a facts, mam…
The league clearly sent word down from on high that there will not be two sweeps in the conference finals. You don’t need an MBA to know the revenue loss would be a blow to a league that’s broke and looking for $$. Hockey would be over in May! The referees are just tools in the business called NHL. The CEO remains Bettman.
Thanks Gary. Ass.
Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 05/15/08 at 12:57 PM ET
There was no ass in the crease. There was, however, an Ass in the stands.
instant classic.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 05/15/08 at 01:00 PM ET
The referees are just tools in the business called NHL.
The referees are just tools, PERIOD!
Posted by Bill from GR on 05/15/08 at 01:05 PM ET
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I usually don’t believe in conspiracy theories, Chief, so I won’t comment on if the refs called that so there would be another Saturday NHL game, but you’re right on that the NHL has just sunk. Over-expansion, diluted teams, stupid contrived rivalries, a TV contract with a network run out of someone’s garage, the NHL is a shell of what it once was. I think you wrote once that you’re a Red Wings fan, not an NHL fan, but a Red Wings fan. Sadly, I think that’s right on. I used to support and get excited about the league in general, but now it’s simply the Wings and nothing else. Bettman is directly responsible for that.
Posted by TDeters on 05/15/08 at 09:04 AM ET