Stars get screwed

Rudy · May 1, 2003

Ok, I know not all of you know alot about hockey, so hear me out. Yes, it is difficult to blame officiating for the outcome of a sporting event. Hockey is one of those exceptions. During the season, you try to fairly officiate the game and strictly enforce the rules. During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the players decide the game. plain and simple. The officials try to make the calls that should be made, and keep the number of power plays even for each team, but it is not manditory. It is customary to swallow the whistle during the 3rd period, and especially when there is under 10 minutes to go. The only exceptions are when a penalty is so blantantly obvious, its is a crime not to call it, ie when it directly affecets a scoring chance, or it could cause a considerable injury. This is an unwritten rule in the higher levels of hockey competition, especially the NHL. Its just fair and respectful to let the players decide the game. That is one thing that makes the NHL playoffs the best out there.

That being said, the officials cost Dallas the game Wednesday night, and possibly the series and season. The Stars and Ducks were tied 0-0 in a hard fought game at the start of the 3rd and final period. The Stars had five power plays and the Ducks had 3. It was pretty much given that the refs would give the Ducks one PP to make it fair, that is not a problem. Five seconds into the third, the Jason Arnott is called for tripping, not a great call, but it makes things fair and its early enough not to totally decide the game. The Stars kill the penalty and all is well. As the period moves on, the refs rightly swallow their whistle. However, Jason Arnott is again called for tripping on a HORRIBLE call just to even the penalties out. The problem is, the penalty is called with 3:24 LEFT IN THE GAME, Tied 0-0. That is absurd. You do not make panzy ass calls like that late in a playoff game. That is the beauty of the NHL. The players decide the game. The players play through the trips, slashes, hooks, checks and broken bones.

If you haven't figured it out yet, the Ducks scored on the power play to take the lead, and go on to win the game 1-0. The refs decided this game and they should be ashamed of themselvs. All of those wussie penalties are a part of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It just adds to the glory of winning Lord Stanley's Cup. I don't know how to express how furious I am at this. I guess you have to be a hockey fan to understand. Those refs could have very well ended Dallas' season. They are down in the series 3-1 and have to win 3 games in a row, or they are playing golf this summer. I guess what I am trying to say is:

REFS SHOULD NEVER DECIDE THE OUTCOME OF A GAME.

CMJ · May 1, 2003

I watched the game and I thought it was a good call. Heck it was almost a text book example of boarding(which was the call I believe). It was a stupid penalty to TAKE but he very much deserved it.

Anaheim is shocking the hell out of me. I doubt they can win in the Western Finals, but I doubted they could beat Detroit and Dallas back to back.

BTW, NJ looks great.

IronMan4 · May 1, 2003

I think Rudy's head would explode if he watched a Lakers game.

shaneb · May 1, 2003

Best I recall it's still against the rules to cross check in the NHL no matter what the game or what the period.

I want the Stars to win, but you can't break the rules of the game to do so.

Seeya,

Shane

Brian · May 1, 2003

You can't win a game without scoring a goal, the officiating has been this way for decades and the Stars shouldn't have put themselves in that situation.

Rudy · May 2, 2003

The Stars did not put themselves in any situation. Anaheim's goalie did an excellent job of stopping the Stars' scoring chances. As far as the penalties go, it WAS a horrible call. If you are going to call crap like that, then they should call everything. It is customary not to call something like that late in a game.

shaneb · May 2, 2003

Cross checking or boarding is always called. People get seriously hurt that way. Now tripping or hooking can slide.... and in overtime they let even more slide. But that call was good. Lets hope the Stars learned from it and won't make stupid mistakes late in the game from here on.

Seeya,

Shane