lookalive07

According to the ending score, no. However, if that would have counted, it could have been a different game, due to the fact that it would have tied up the game at 1. Who knows, in some alternate universe, we could have made something of it. That said, however, the call was legitimate. Bias obviously has me calling bulls***, but once you realize the rule, it's the right call. Soft, maybe, but correct.

When Franzen returns: +20 goals with respect to remaining games. When Filppula returns: +20-30 goals with respect to remaining games When Kronwall returns: +10-20 goals if he gets right back where he left off. When Williams returns: +10-20 goals. When we get rid of Lebda: PLAYOFFZ?!

To me, it's a little of both. For one, incompetence played a huge role in both the goal last year that was disallowed, and the one on Wednesday. I am biased solely because I am a Wings fan, but I am unbiased because both of those goals should be on the books, and possibly could have been game/series changers, not only because they are goals, but because there is indisputable video evidence of both goals. To me, the incompetence starts with the rule book because the "intent to blow the whistle" rule gives the referees way too much power in a game that is already controlled enough. If the referee is going to stop play because the puck is covered, fine. But with video review, we also need audio. That, in my opinion is the major downfall with the Toronto Review they have. Add in audio review, and you'd have clear evidence when there is a goal and when there is not. If the referee can't see the puck, fine. He blows the whistle, and play is dead. However, if he blows the whistle, but then we find out like on Wednesday that the puck was in the net 3 seconds before the whistle is blown, the audio/video review should confirm this, and Toronto should tell the ref to call it a goal. This is where conspiracy comes in. The problem with the Toronto Review is that the referee can't see the review. He's relying on someone miles away telling him what to do. It's hard enough for the refs to keep track of the puck in real time, but when he can't even see a video review of the play in question, how is he supposed to make the right call? Referee bias could come in because referees are human. How are we supposed to know how unbiased a referee is being during a game? We're not. All referees could be screwing the teams they don't like, because let's face it, a hockey referee wouldn't become one if he didn't grow up liking hockey, so it's relatively certain he has some bias when officiating. Either way, we can't fix what was broken, so we just move on until something happens to fix it, or we get another blown call to ***** about.

It's pretty safe to say that Z will get the C when Lidstrom has had his fill of the game. Hopefully one more Cup is under his belt by then, eh? Then Datsyuk will remain an Alternate, and as for the next definite A, if Franzen gets healthy and puts up some huge points after his knee injury is over, I could see him getting one. Then after Zetterberg retires, I could see Helmer or someone taking the C if they're still with us.

I agree, and even then, Barry Melrose is terrible. Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside offer a little bit of hockey insight for ESPN, but even still, they don't know s*** about hockey on ESPN. I really wish Gary Thorne and Bill Clement would tag-team some announcing again instead of Thorne doing the Little League World Series.

Maybe this has been discussed but I couldn't find it anywhere, but I noticed last night that Z wasn't wearing the "A" on his jersey like he normally does. Anyone know anything about that? Again, sorry if this has been brought up already. Edit: sorry, I was misinformed in relation to the protocol for Alternate Captaincy. I never knew that there could only be two Alternates in any given night's lineup. Thanks anyway.

Yeah I guess I've just never noticed this before. Strange, considering I watched almost every game last year. I think I just had a brainfart when I saw him having a hell of a game last night, but no "A" and I thought to myself, wait, did he do something wrong?