Habs fans are just pissed their GM has brought in the Muppets to play Hockey

If the REf loses sight of the Puck he MUST blow the whistle, He doesn’t have X-Ray vision

Posted by Evilpens on 12/11/09 at 09:08 AM ET

Lots of terrible “no goal” calls this year.  The league really needs to fix its video review problems, it’s laughable that this isn’t overturned into a goal.

Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 12/11/09 at 09:17 AM ET

Well, there have been a fair share of unfortunate intent to whistle calls this season already and I understand the potential ire of Habs fans. But it’s difficult to find a better solution. Perhaps extending the review process to allow for overturning the “intent to whistle” call if the puck is in the net before the whistle if there are no transgressions committed by the attacking team, eg. interfering with the goaltender. Then again there is an obvious delay between the intention to whistle and physical act of blowing it. But I’m probably in favour of erroring on the behalf of goals.

In this game, Montreal was outplayed by Pittsburgh so no great injustice in the grand scheme of things. That isn’t always the case, of course.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 12/11/09 at 09:27 AM ET

Also Montreal went ahead in the game 2-1 on a HORRIBLE delay of the Game Penalty called on Fedotenko of the Pens , & I don’t hear anyone Bitching about that

Good Teams find ways to Win,  Bad teams find ways to lose

Posted by Evilpens on 12/11/09 at 09:41 AM ET

Being outplayed has nothing to do with premature whistles, whistles blown after the puck goes in or the dreaded “intent to blow”.
One team playing a better game should have no affect on calling a goal a goal. Call Habs fans whatever you want, but that was a bad call.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 12/11/09 at 09:43 AM ET

So was the Delay of Game Penalty against Fedotenko & the Pens where The Habs scored to take the Lead, Again good teams find ways to win & Bad teams find ways to Lose & for you Watch the Game & THEN comment ot

Posted by Evilpens on 12/11/09 at 09:59 AM ET

But it’s difficult to find a better solution.

Is it really?  Allow the central office to overturn an obviously missed call by the ref.  He doesn’t have x-ray vision, so why do we pretend he does?

“Every goal is reviewed”, but what that means in an era of ‘intent to blow’ is that what were ruled good goals can only be overturned, and nothing can be done going the other way, even if the puck is in the net without a save if the ref decides to blow.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 12/11/09 at 10:05 AM ET

Evilpens stop being deliberately obtuse.  The point in question is was it a bad call on this particular play?  The answer is yes, it was a bad call.  The puck had already hit the back of the net and bounced before the whistle blew.  Whatever else happened in the game is irrelevant to the question at hand.
If you were on trial for murder would your defense be “It doesn’t matter because somebody murdered my friend?”

Posted by dwgs on 12/11/09 at 10:06 AM ET

Terrible early whistle.  Doesn’t matter who the teams are or what else happened in the game.  That’s a goal from mini-mites through the beer leagues. 

These instances seem to be mounting this year, don’t they?  It’s fundamentally illogical for a goal-starved league to start arbitrarily taking hard-earned goals away.

Posted by EJ Agricola on 12/11/09 at 10:09 AM ET

Is it really?

I wish Wing fans would read the entire piece to which they’re responding and comprehending it as well. In this case repeating what’s already written after the quoted bit. It would save us all a lot of meaningless and less nuanced entries.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 12/11/09 at 10:12 AM ET

Yor MORON it’s Bad calls Happen!! for the 3rd Time Good Teams find ways to overcome Bad Calls . Bad teams find ways to Lose

So they got a goal on a Horrific call & they had one taken away on a Horrific call came out even in my book

Posted by Evilpens on 12/11/09 at 10:15 AM ET

Oh, I’m the moron.  That explains it.  Sorry that should be that Explains iT.
Can’t argue with that Logic.
Let me know when you find a publisher for that Book of Yours.

Posted by dwgs on 12/11/09 at 10:22 AM ET

Pens fans, Wings fans, Habs fans: it doesn’t matter.  Let’s get above partisanship with this.

Q: Was a legitimate goal taken away in this _single case_?

A: Yes.

Posted by EJ Agricola on 12/11/09 at 10:23 AM ET

@EJ: Thank you.  Very concise, and it shows the real issue here: the league needs to have a more thorough goal review process.

Heck, this can be reviewed in a matter of minutes, it’s not like we’re talking about delaying the game for 20 minutes while each goal is sorted out.  If there’s a waved-off goal where it’s questionable, just review it and allow the review to overturn any “intent to blow” calls.

Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 12/11/09 at 10:29 AM ET

I was watching this game last night.

It was a good goal and a terrible blown call.  The refs simply layed yet another egg.

You want scoring in the league to go up and stay up?  Stop letting refs waive off all kinds of good goals for no real reason whatsoever.  I’m sick of this “Ref has the final say” thing altogether.  The refs aren’t competent enough to have such responsibility.

And Evilpens… I was watching the FSN PIT feed for the game, and even Errey and the other guy flat-out stated it was a really bad call and a huge break in favor of the Pens.  It was obvious to everyone.  There really was no excuse for it, regardless of anything else that happened in the game.

Posted by Primis on 12/11/09 at 10:34 AM ET

We’re questioning the goal, not the teams or the game. Yes, it was mistakenly taken away.

And Evilpens, someday Bettman and Crosby will get divorced, and you’ll know how it feels like to be robbed.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 12/11/09 at 10:34 AM ET

Thank you EJ, you said what I meant to but much more succinctly.
You are obviously not a MORON.

Posted by dwgs on 12/11/09 at 10:34 AM ET

It was a bad call.  Ref lost sight of the puck and “intent to blow” strikes again.

Refs are going to make bad calls, they’re human.  I was under the impression that having replay would be able to fix mistakes that the refs made, though.  Because video doesn’t lie.

I guess I was wrong.

So, really, why even have replay?

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 12/11/09 at 10:36 AM ET

Happens all the time. I saw one game where the goal didn’t count and the whistle was blown after it went in and the ref said he had intent to blow it which didn’t even make sense because then he would have wanted to blow it before the player shot it. Refs must be betting on games.

Posted by Bo from FL on 12/11/09 at 10:47 AM ET

It was an early whistle. That being said it happens to all teams from time to time

Posted by Randy from Butler PA on 12/11/09 at 10:50 AM ET

I was under the impression that having replay would be able to fix mistakes that the refs made, though.

That, I believe, is the intent of video review in football. That was never the intention in hockey, which I think is the correct approach. The “intent to whistle” has nothing to do with reviews, because they’re not reviewable according to the rules. Neither are goals following other infractions that might be shown to be false if review was allowed, but the “intent to whistle” is just the hardest one to understand from the perspective of fans, hence the complaints. But it is a legitimate rule.

There will be mistakes, but I don’t like the idea of increasing the importance of review. I’d rather live with the inevitable mistakes.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 12/11/09 at 10:55 AM ET

No because it was Rosby & he is NOOOOOOOOOO Captain & is married to BUTTman & it’s a League conspiracy !!!!!!!!!!!

Again if it’s a conspiracy explain to me again why they called Fedotenko for delay of game When he was checked into his own net

Was it a Bad call YEP !!! But again Bad Calls happen Get over it !!!

Posted by Evilpens on 12/11/09 at 10:59 AM ET

Bring back the goal judge.  Every puck that goes in the net should be reviewed regardless of blown whistle, waved off, intent to suck, etc.

Habs were robbed.  Us Wing fans know it all too well.

Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 12/11/09 at 11:03 AM ET

Is it me or is it just all the Pens fans who think this call was acceptable?

Posted by haha stupid pens on 12/11/09 at 11:04 AM ET

All i know is if this happened to my beloved pens i’d have shit a brick.  But it didnt so i’m ok with it. GO pens I love your Crosby

Posted by PensFan on 12/11/09 at 11:06 AM ET

Where am i. Why does my butt hurt.  And why do i feel like i had a great great night last night.  Is this Garys bed? whats with those that man thong? is it mine? shoot did i do this again? Well, I guess he did give me the cup so i do owe him that.  But He better start putting me on more commercials dammit. That freakin retard OVIE.  He doesnt even sleep with Bettman.  I deserve this

I am CROSBY

Posted by CROSBY from BettmansHouse on 12/11/09 at 11:08 AM ET

Is it me or is it just all the Pens fans who think this call was acceptable?

I accept all calls founded on the rules. Whether it happened for or against my beloved Penguins is irrelevant.

The rules might be flawed, but that is another - and hopefully impartial - discussion.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 12/11/09 at 11:14 AM ET

Another ridiculous “Intent to blow the whistle” call.  The rule should be play to the whistle. During replay, if the puck crosses the line before the whistle, its a goal.  I’m also completely baffled that a league so starved for goals finds a way to take away so many legitimate ones.

Posted by dip on 12/11/09 at 11:32 AM ET

I accept all calls founded on the rules. Whether it happened for or against my beloved Penguins is irrelevant.

That’s just a lie.  Plain and simple.  I understand it, but it is what it is…a lie.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/11/09 at 11:33 AM ET

I’m actually madder that this is happening to teams other than Detroit. IF the league was screwing over one franchise (something I’ve only EVER said in jest), it would suck, but would be much less an issue. This sort of thing makes the league less credible and makes the game look bad. This system DOES NOT WORK AT ALL! WHY are the refs always losing sight of the puck? Perhaps it’s because a 6 foot 6 goalie with gigantic pads on makes it hard to see?

Reduce goalie pad size and stop with the immediate calls. Confer with the other officials before making a contentious call (even the replay booth). The defenders of these calls say “refs are human - they’re not infalliable.” Let the goal judging process reflect that.

Posted by redxblack from Akron Ohio on 12/11/09 at 11:50 AM ET

Yeah, this has been happening way more than it should this season—and it’s only a few cases that have even received publicity.  I know the Sharks have had it happen to them at least twice this year, including the L.A. game on Wednesday that they lost in OT.  Of course if something happens after 10pm ET it’s the same as it didn’t happen at all.

The real problem, I think, is that referees have been extremely quick to blow a play dead this season if they lose sight of the puck.  This is happening when goalies are still squirming around, when players are going for the puck—and there ARE two refs out there now!  Just a tiny, tiny bit of restraint might help these guys not screw up and prematurely blow the whistle.

Could you imagine being married to one of these guys?

Posted by nosferatu from oh on 12/11/09 at 12:04 PM ET

Last 2 posters ................. really Intelligent ................................................... YIKES !!!

Posted by Evilpens on 12/11/09 at 12:09 PM ET

The intent-to-blow-the-whistle rule is like the tuck rule in the NFL. That is, it’s a bad rule but what can you do about it. It sucks for Montreal, but consider it a payback for them throwing Fedotenko into his own goal and getting a power play goal out of it. It evened out.

Posted by cs6687 on 12/11/09 at 12:27 PM ET

I’m a Pens fan and it was an awful call. And no, not all Pens fans are the ones saying it was good. If you’ll read, there is ONE pens fan saying it was a good call, then some idiots with no life pretending to be Pens fans. Like Primis said, even the biggest Pens homers on earth, Bob Errey and Paul Steigerwald said it was a bad whistle.

What they need to do is make a standard for the whistle. For instance, the ref should have to lose sight of the puck for a full second before blowing the play dead, and for god’s sake, play to the whistle, get rid of the “intent to blow.”

Posted by Kstewy16 on 12/11/09 at 12:28 PM ET

That’s just a lie.  Plain and simple.  I understand it, but it is what it is…a lie.

No, it isn’t a lie. I believe in rules, whether it’s on or off the ice. Some are more prone to injustice to other. That goes with the territory of competitive spors, so you’re not going to see me whine here in print about a disallowed Penguins goal. Never.

Don’t project your moral deficiencies unto me, thank you.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 12/11/09 at 01:02 PM ET

this is very similar to the Wings disallowed goal that caused so much controversy.  the puck wasn’t even CLOSE to being covered by the goalie.  intent-to-blow rule aside, there is NO REASON the ref should have had the intent to blow the whistle.

why can’t the league just set their freaking egos aside, stop being such whiny pussies, and use video replay properly?

I love how many times they shoved the phrase “good hockey goals” down our throats after the lockout, yet time and time again they are not stepping up to assure that the truly “good hockey goals” are actually counted.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 12/11/09 at 02:10 PM ET

Don’t project your moral deficiencies unto me, thank you.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 12/11/09 at 01:02 PM ET

You’re right. I’m sorry. If I was in Denmark I’d be rotten.  Not pure like you.

But you still lied.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/11/09 at 02:18 PM ET

Blah, it just reinforces the idea that we should add an asterisk to the Pens’ cup “victory” last year. It sucks to lose one.. or even two points due to obvious bias, just like it sucked that the Red Wings were screwed out of another cup, or the Flyers were screwed out of series win, etc, etc, etc…

And yeah… diving in your own net usually calls for a delay of game… suprisingly. Another fun fact, it was Devorski that called it.

Posted by Habs Fan on 12/11/09 at 03:06 PM ET

diving in your own net usually calls for a delay of game

If by diving, you mean being pushed into the net by a member of the attacking team, then you’re right.

Posted by cs6687 on 12/11/09 at 03:12 PM ET

Red Wings were screwed out of another cup, or the Flyers were screwed out of series win

I’m sorry.  Could you explain that to me?  How were the Wings screwed?  Was it the lack of rest between series that both teams had?  Was it the 2-0 lead in the series that the Wings had?  Was it the fact that the Wings had a 2-1 lead in both games 3 and 4, and even had a power play in game 4 which they gave up the tying goal to Jordan Staal?  I fail to see how the Wings were screwed.  Injured?  Yes, as both teams were at that point, but not screwed.  As for the Flyers, any team that gives up a 3-0 lead in an elimination game on home ice doesn’t deserve to move on. 

As for asteriks, maybe they should put those next to all those Cups Montreal won with that ‘fair’ minor league system that was in place back in the day.

Posted by pens fan in balitmore on 12/11/09 at 03:20 PM ET

And on the original point, it was a bad call.  It should have been a goal.

Posted by pens fan in baltimore on 12/11/09 at 03:25 PM ET

As for asteriks, maybe they should put those next to all those Cups Montreal won with that ‘fair’ minor league system that was in place back in the day.

2 day unpretecedented( spelling?) break to make sure Detroit can’t rest their injuries? Obvious referee bias from game one to game six (Interference and holding not being the same for the two teams it seems)? But then again, that’s how you “save” a bandwagonning franchise according to Bettman.. and that’s only for Detroit. I’m sure the Flyers fan would have alot to say about that series too.

And what minor league system? You mean where they were allowed to trade the first pick of the draft to allow them to draft two french canadiens? The rule that was used once before it was banned? Oh please…

Posted by Habs Fan on 12/11/09 at 03:38 PM ET

2 day unpretecedented( spelling?) break to make sure Detroit can’t rest their injuries?

Yes, because as we all know, the Wings were the only team playing with injuries.  Also, it’s funny how everyone forgets about the outcry that almost everyone had that the finals were to be pushed back an entire week. 

Obvious referee bias from game one to game six (Interference and holding not being the same for the two teams it seems)?

[

Where was this obvious bias?  I don’t have the exact stats, but powerplays for both sides wound up pretty even, that is if you don’t include all the minor penalties the Pens took in Game 5.  That would give Detroit an edge, but I wouldn’t say biased.  Biased would be 3 or 4 extra powerplays for the Pens in games 1-6.  And if you don’t think the Wings, or any other team, uses subtle picks and interference…

quote] But then again, that’s how you “save” a bandwagonning franchise according to Bettman.

Is Pittsburgh a bandwagon market?  Yes, like most other American hockey cities not named Minnesota and like most sports cities in general.  One cannot say if a city is a hockey market until the bad times hit.  It will be interesting to see what happens when Pittsburgh or Detroit go through a 2-3 year stretch of not making the playoffs.  Again, we will see.  Of course, everyone paints bandwagon fans as a negative but more fans = more revenue = higher salary cap.  How is that a bad thing?

I’m sure the Flyers fan would have alot to say about that series too.

Yes, because they wouldn’t be bitter about getting bounced two years in a row to their top rival.  They would be just so objective.  Actually, the Flyers fans who are objective would probably say that since Richards and Carter were played so much during the regular season on the PK, they were exhausted by the time the playoffs rolled around.  Oh, but in my haste in that statement, I forgot that the refs are the ones who give out ice time.  Obvious conspiracy/bias there.

Posted by pens fan in baltimore on 12/11/09 at 04:29 PM ET

Bad Call.
Just more evidence that they over protect the goalies.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 12/11/09 at 04:52 PM ET