Ice Hockey

» bburkardt - What has happened to my NHL?

At season's beginning I thought the new rule changes were great for hockey and could see it make great improvements. During the regular season I believe this was the case. Is it just me, or are refs calling more penalties in the playoffs ? It used to be let them play because you don't want to make the call that costs a team the game. Well that is certainly an ancient theory.
I am a lifetime Penguins fan and grew up in the Pittsburgh area. I played organized hockey for 15 years and watch the game as a coach and a ref. I look for great adjustment, great defense, and intelligent gameplanning. So can anyone else tell me why I'm noticing in the Carolina series that it musn't be good television for a Carolina team to be in the finals. The zebras are doing everything in their power to put Buffalo on the powerplay ( this late in the playoffs all 4 teams are excellent on the powerplay ). This DEFINATELY changes the outcome of a game.
The 3rd period of game 2 was given entirely to Buffalo to close the gap. Poor Carolina can't even be tenacious or play/skate hard without worrying about getting a roughing or interference penalty. You know, those two penalties you can call that when you view the replay sometimes you really don't see the penalty. Here in Game three I AM DISGUSTED. Will anyone else noticing this please send a letter to the league for me. If you ever want my family or me to attend a game for the prices they're charging, This has to stop.
I've studied replays of game 3, and Buffalo is commiting identical infractions dead in front of officials and there is no call!!! look at the blatant missed elbow on Commodore at the end of the 1st period. Look at all the wishy-washy penalties in the 2nd that caused Carolina to play in a shell and NATURALLY tells Buffalo they can skate harder and can be way chippier and never get called. This certainly sways the series and has to be controlled. We won't even get into diving. Has anyone else seen anything like this in any other series ? Please stop this before my beloved sport is turned into pro-wrestling with scripted outcomes. Or just have the refs declare a winner at center ice before the game and save me 2 1/2 hrs. . God i'm p***ed.

Sincerely,

Brian Burkardt
A Penguins fan who sincerely pitys the Hurricanes, who obviously aren't in the league's or the ref's plans for the late post-season.

-- posted by bburkardt

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» Brent Sedo - What has happened to my NHL?

In response to What has happened to my NHL? posted by bburkardt:

And now here we are, June 20, and Carolina has the Cup. Overcoming the refs and all, playing a rookie goalie. Edmonton was a surprise, but Carolina was a very good team all year, and signing Doug Weight was a real smart move for the playoffs. They had a no-name defence, but Hedican had made it to the Finals in '94 with Vancouver, Adams in '02 with the 'Canes and Commodore in '04 with Calgary. They couldn't be all that bad.

And Cory Stillman has now won 2 Cups in a row with 2 different teams. Another smart signing.

It was an excellent Final, methinks.

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