I can’t tell you how ridiculous it is that an NHL team can ice 6 skaters and a goalie for 21 seconds and somehow to refs “miss” it.

It kind of summed up the entire game.

Posted by Primis on 06/02/09 at 09:42 PM ET

Hey, what happened to that anti-Pen(i)s officiating conspiracy?

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 06/02/09 at 09:58 PM ET

No doubt missing 30 seconds of 6-on-5 was ridiculous. But Detroit got away with two picks on their PP goal and covering two pucks in the crease the first two games. Things are evening out.

Posted by cs6687 on 06/02/09 at 10:09 PM ET

cs, you can’t really mean that.  the guy that got three assists for your team tonight should have been sitting in the press box.  when is interference called?  when “the face of the league” is in danger of falling behind 3-0 in the finals with the possibility that they won’t get any tv revenue without a game 5.  but keep thinking you have been on the short end of the stick.  there are two types of people in this world—people who have no understanding of hockey and people who live outside of pittsburgh.

Posted by JROD from East Lansing on 06/02/09 at 10:18 PM ET

JROD,  very nice. keep thinking that way pen’s fan. the non-calls on yer precious were blatant.  cheat to win, eh?

Posted by Gunnar from ada mich on 06/02/09 at 10:21 PM ET

I guess your definition of “evening out” does not include a non-call elbow to the back of The Mule’s head?

Posted by drimo from Cincinnati, OH on 06/02/09 at 10:23 PM ET

If Ovechkin would’ve been penalized for his knee-to-knee hit on Gonchar a month ago, I might agree with you, JROD. But at that point, a precedent was set. No suspensions for anyone.

But objectively watch your power play. There are picks and interference on every one.

Posted by cs6687 on 06/02/09 at 10:23 PM ET

but never interference on gill?  come on now.  if it’s good enough to be called for the game deciding power play, it’s good enough to be called earlier in the game too.

Posted by JROD from East Lansing on 06/02/09 at 10:26 PM ET

The Pens wanted this game more than the Wings…and so did Lil’ Gary and the NBC honchos. I mean, seriously, who misses six guys on he ice for 20+ seconds? Anyone who doesn’t think NBC and Lil’ Gary’s minions didn’t want to see at least a Game 5 on Saturday are delusional at best.

So, let’s set up the scenario for Game 4. The Wings score early and dominate the play for a period and a half. The refs then take “control” of the game and the Pens get two powerplays for every one the Wings get. In the end, the Pens win and the Finals become a best-of-three series. Lil’ Gary immediately creams his pants and the honcos at NBC say, “Hey, this NHL thing, whatever the hell it is, aint too bad.”

Yup, no doubt about it, it’ll go seven games…and Lil’ Gary’s boys willl let it go the full seven games before they back off and let the players on the ice decide the outcome. Unless, of course, GBB promises “special favors” for Lil’ Gary and his whole staff of incometent nincompoops. In that case, it’ll be over sometime during the first period or when Lil’ Gary creams his pants…whichever comes first.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/02/09 at 10:26 PM ET

Its kind of obvious what the NHL has done. They abide by the rules during the regular season and make exceptions in the playoffs. I don’t see the harm. It’s hockey, and yes having a game five and Malkin still in the starting line up would be beneficial for the NHL. If you enjoy watching hockey, and love the sport, bitching about it on blogs and forums kind of holds no point. CS wasn’t even complaining, he was simply stating that the calls are evening out which I agree with. In game two Pens fans were bitching, and now after game three JROD, you have your panties in a bunch. Get over it.

Posted by EditUndo on 06/02/09 at 10:33 PM ET

It kind of summed up the entire game.

I wouldn’t say that. Yes, the 6-on-5 displayed how incompetent refs can be, but it wasn’t the reason behind who won and lost the game. Same as game one and two. Missed calls and sometimes blatant missed calls are going to happen. What summed up the game was the play in the third period by both teams.

Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 06/02/09 at 10:35 PM ET

what exactly did the pens have to complain about after game 2?  am i missing something?  was it the magic stick that broke over hossa?

Posted by JROD from East Lansing on 06/02/09 at 10:35 PM ET

We lost lets just keep our mouths shut and wait for game 4. Thats all we can do and all we should do.

Posted by pgoody on 06/02/09 at 10:38 PM ET

ok let’s be real here.  if the too many men call gets made, the wings are on the pp.  even if cleary takes a penalty, it’s 4 on 4, not a pp for the pens that leads to their second goal.

Posted by JROD from East Lansing on 06/02/09 at 10:38 PM ET

They complained about their team losing. Throwing in “what ifs” for every post hit, or missed calls. And now, you’re doing the same. It seems the losing team always has a theory about what “could” have happened. But it didn’t, and it won’t. Game 4 is on thursday so save your excuses for then.

Posted by EditUndo on 06/02/09 at 10:49 PM ET

i’m sorry, but did you really just equate hitting the post with playing with 6 players for 25 seconds?  where are the real pens fans?  the ones from when super mario played?

Posted by JROD from East Lansing on 06/02/09 at 10:52 PM ET

No, not at all. I am merely saying you are complaining. The same thing Pens fans did after game two.

Posted by EditUndo on 06/02/09 at 10:57 PM ET

Well, looky here.

A game finally gets called correctly and what happens. Pens win.

The ONLY way Detroit wins this is by obstruction.

The End

Plus Wow! Did the Pens ever hammer the WIngs at every opportunity!

Posted by Jimmy from Windsor on 06/02/09 at 11:05 PM ET

i have no idea how you are coming to these conclusions.  complaining is asking for a penalty to be called after a hat trick because people are throwing hats on the ice.  saying that a team played with 6 men for 25 seconds and there was no penalty call is stating a fact.  saying that pittsburgh had 3 pp opportunities and detroit had 2 is stating a fact.  there is no subjectivity in those statements.

Posted by JROD from East Lansing on 06/02/09 at 11:06 PM ET

everyone does understand that referees are human? everyone makes mistakes….pens got away with an extra man tonight, zetterberg gets away twice for covering the puck in the crease. shit happens. human error happens. deal with it…....whoever believes there is a conspiracy for either team is a joke of life and is just a poor little fanboy for his/her team.

Posted by common sense on 06/02/09 at 11:24 PM ET

there better not be one more comment about refs cheating for one side after this absolute Gong Show of a game. what a crap feast.

missing an extra guy for over 20 seconds is beyond laughable.

most of the calls and missed calls were crap and deciding games on Power Plays is junk. the Pens are garbage without a million PP chances.

Posted by Death Metal Nightmare from MKE on 06/02/09 at 11:27 PM ET

too funny.  please illustrate where zetts covers the puck with his hand.  is that before or after hossa “slashes” the stick out of the pens hand and breaks it?  because that happened too, right?  i haven’t put forth any conspiracy theories either.

Posted by JROD from East Lansing on 06/02/09 at 11:28 PM ET

A game finally gets called correctly and what happens. Pens win.

The ONLY way Detroit wins this is by obstruction.

Serious question here. With all the complaining (and IMO the complaining is starting to sound NBA-like), there seems to be a pointed difference between fans of the two conference as to what is interference and what is defense. Do many eastern conference teams actually play defense or have defensive corps who are really good at positioning or is that just a western conference thing? I’m just curious as you’ve had a couple of posts that don’t seem to be grounded in reality and others have posted some thoughts that just don’t make sense to me. I don’t think I’ve watched one eastern conference game this year, so that is why I’m asking. Are you used to wide open games with teams backing off and giving Pittsburgh lots of space and free reign in the neutral zone? If so, that is just not how hockey is usually played in the western conference.

Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 06/02/09 at 11:37 PM ET

EVERYONE, STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE OFFICIATING.  THANK YOU.

Posted by Incognetis from Delaware... Hi... I'm in... Delaware on 06/02/09 at 11:39 PM ET

which ref are you related to incognetis?  one of em who can’t count to 6 without looking at both hands?

Posted by JROD from East Lansing on 06/02/09 at 11:42 PM ET

Red Wings fans are the BIGGEST BABIES in the entire NHL.  YOU LOST!  Other than Zeterberg your team didn’t show up tonight.  Where is Lidstrom? Rafalski? etc?  Osgood became human and THE RED WINGS LOST!  I recommend you read Mitch Albom’s (Detroit Free Press) article from Sunday/Monday.  He wrote he would not be surprised to see this series 2-2 coming back to Detroit.  The Red Wings got a lot of luck in games #1 & #2, not the luck went the Pens way.  Also, Sindey Crosby is not going to be kept down forever.  It will be a great Game #4, and the Red Wings might win, but quit crying you babies.  The Red Wings DID NOT DESERVE TO WIN TONIGHT!  LET’S GO PENS!

Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 06/02/09 at 11:44 PM ET

you know what, i think you are right.  i mean, it’s not like the wings were playing 5 on 6 or anything crazy like that!

Posted by JROD from East Lansing on 06/02/09 at 11:46 PM ET

Just curious JROD from East Lansing…..did anything significant happen during this 21 seconds (goal, penalty, true scoring chance, etc.)?  NO, then quit crying.  It did not affect the game in anyway.  Seems like you might be getting a little nervous now that the luck has swung towrds the Pens!  I love this crap, Philly, Washington, now Detroit…..whenever some luck falls to the Pens somebody starts with this Gary Bettman conspiracy garbage.  HA!  See ya Thursday night!

Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 06/02/09 at 11:51 PM ET

JROD from East Lansing…..are you related to FlyersFan, because you make just as many irrational points as he does.  You also won’t quit when you are wrong.  Is he your twin brother?  Just curious.

Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 06/02/09 at 11:56 PM ET

Hey Red Wings fans, nice 65% road penalty kill.  No wonder you cry about getting penalties called against you.  But I’m sure Gary Bettman screwed up your pathetic penalty kill too.  *#$%@& BABIES!

Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 06/03/09 at 12:02 AM ET

Nah…the red wings actually CREATED the west coast offense.  What they’re doing now isn’t good defense or west coast hockey.  What they’re doing is plain old New Jersey Devils hockey.  It’s wrestling.  Moving picks, stick tripping, and holding SHOULD be a penalty in the NHL.  West Coast offense should be the standard…that means open hockey with hitting and legal defense.

Posted by stoneman from Vegas on 06/03/09 at 01:36 AM ET

That’s a great write-up by Mr. Hradek.  Even, fair, analytical.  Completely devoid of color or bias.  I wish there was more of this kind of sports writing in the world.  Just not here.

Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 06/03/09 at 02:51 AM ET

I understand the complaining about the interference midway through the third but come on guys. The penalty being called doesn’t award one team a goal, kill the damn penalty. You want momentum, make your own and do one of the fundamental areas of the game. It’s not like the call on Orpik that led to the Franzen goal was any better, if that was interference then this must be pee wee. Sure the calls were bad but they don’t change the score, just like if the too many men had been called, that doesn’t hand Detroit a point. Can we please stop whining and just let one team win a damn game?

Posted by John on 06/03/09 at 03:38 AM ET

WOW…the Penguin trolls seem to come out of hiding after a win.

Posted by yreland from Van Dieman's Land on 06/03/09 at 04:12 AM ET

WOW…the Penguin trolls seem to come out of hiding after a win.

that’s what they do best. they come out and thump their cheast because they knew refs helped them out that night

i knew pens were going to win after the 6 on 5 wasnt called. last night was plain example how pens won games throughout the playoffs this year, help from the refs. games 1+2 showed you that they need the calls to stay in the game.

if VS has any shred of creadibility left they tell Eddie ZO or whatever to stop acting homer towards the pens. the homer of eddie zo last night was the worst i ever heard broadcast journalism on tv.

Posted by FlyersFan on 06/03/09 at 06:23 AM ET

But objectively watch your power play. There are picks and interference on every one.

Objectively watch both teams through the whole game—interference of the middling kind was being let go for both teams, until the half-way point of the third period, when suddenly it was an issue.

Like I said in another post, fair play if you want to call the “breaks” even, now, but there’s a big difference between playing through bounces that have equal probability of happening to either team, and playing through incompetence that is directly hindering a single team.

Let’s total ‘em up. For Pittsburgh, they’ve got a legit gripe about game one when Z covered the puck on Osgood’s back. Should’ve been a penalty shot. In game two, I don’t feel there’s any conclusive evidence Zetterberg covered the puck in the crease; in fact, watching the replays on the overhead angle shows the puck loosely resting a few inches in front of Z’s torso. But let’s say he did cover it, I grant you two blown calls.

For Detroit, first Malkin gets a free pass from his instigator penalty. Second, Talbot hooks down a man ready to fire a one-timer on Fleury in the slot, takes the puck the other way, and scores 15 seconds later. Third, the Pens play 6-on-5 for 20+ seconds, even though their goalie is in the net. Fourth, Kunitz cross-checks Franzen in the head—no call, and likely, no suspension (though that would seem appropriate). Fifth, the officials don’t call interference on D, for either team, fighting the forecheck, at all in the first two games + 50 minutes, then decide it’s a penalty. So what’s that, five issues right there, four in a single game, that the Pens happened to win.

So hey, at the very least, don’t tell me things are “evening” out, tell me they are undoubtedly even, because they sure are even, at the very least.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 06/03/09 at 07:34 AM ET

Ugh.

No one’s getting favored, no one’s got better luck than the other team.  Reffing has been sub-par, definitely, but it’s not favoring any team.  Wings fans are sounding like the Pens fans after games 1 & 2.  Come on guys, we’re better than that.

Anyway, didn’t everyone expect the Penguins to win game 3 anyway?  Come on, all Wings fans knew that the Pens would win game 3, that’s how almost every single Wings playoff series happens.

Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 06/03/09 at 07:42 AM ET

Well, looky here.
A game finally gets called correctly and what happens. Pens win.
The ONLY way Detroit wins this is by obstruction.
The End
Plus Wow! Did the Pens ever hammer the WIngs at every opportunity!
Posted by Jimmy from Windsor on 06/03/09 at 12:05 AM ET

You know JACK SH!T about what a correctly called game is.

The End

Plus Wow(men don’t use exclamation points) by hammer do you mean hitting in the numbers or head?  Count how many Wings helmets have been knocked off by head checks.  If it was Cindy and Malkins helmets (probably anchored to their head by the weight of their ear gaurds) skidding across the ice, do you think anyone would notice?

PS…don’t answer that.  I don’t care what Pen(i)s trolls have to say.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 06/03/09 at 07:54 AM ET

that’s what they do best. they come out and thump their cheast because they knew refs helped them out that night

i knew pens were going to win after the 6 on 5 wasnt called. last night was plain example how pens won games throughout the playoffs this year, help from the refs. games 1+2 showed you that they need the calls to stay in the game.

Spoken like a true Flyers fan. And it’s sad that the organization has the same mentality. That’s why your team hasn’t won a Cup for 34 years and will never win another.

Posted by cs6687 on 06/03/09 at 08:57 AM ET