Quadnational

I was going to start a thread on this guys, but it's not that important. Enjoyed being on the board here for several years, and following hockey pretty closely during that time. But, tonight's game was just the last nail in the coffin for me. I've been trying to downplay the screwy non-sensical reffing for a long time, saying it's just the way the game goes and stuff happens, they try and make it fair, etc.,. But, after last year's finals (obstruction, anyone?) and the way tonight's game went, I can't really get too excited about the NHL anymore with so much crazy, maddening reffing inconsistency that goes on, far worse than any other sport I've ever watched. Not saying anyone is to blame or it's some kind of conspiracy, not at all, I guess it's just part of this sport and it's just finally turned me totally off now. I'm going to go spend my time (and entertainment dollars) to find something I can enjoy watching that's more consistent and won't raise my blood pressure to new levels in frustration. Probably motorcycle racing, I'm thinking. I know this post won't really register on anyone's radar here, since I don't post much, but all the best in your following of the Wings, hope they go the distance this year! Ya won't be seeing any more posts from me. Peace out, Quadnational.... Ha ha, just read some posts and see I'm joining Leftwinger out the door as well. Lead the way, mate.

And to add to all this, they get to play all their opponents in the same time zone. Whereas, the Wings will have to fly back and forth several thousand miles through 3 time zones to get to the finals. If we get to the finals against them again, let's just spot the Pens a couple of goals each game as well...

I like our chances in this one, the Sharks just don't impress me that much when they play the Wings. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say Wings in 5. Crazy, I know. Game 1: Wings 3, Sharks 2 Game 2: Wings 2, Sharks 4 Game 3: Wings 1, Sharks 0 (OT) Game 4: Wings 5, Sharks 4 (OT) Game 5: Wings 4, Sharks 2

Damn, I'm good... I like the new playoff slogan, taken from the VS. announcer... FEAR THE WING

OK guys, after watching hockey for several years now, this is how I see NHL officiating works. Throughout the course of a game, there are many, many instances of infractions that can be called "penalties". Small hooks, holds, slashes, interference, etc., events that happen all the time, to different degrees, slight to obvious. Since hockey is such a fast sport, some of these aren't seen by the refs, but then again many of them are. The refs have come to let many of these go, or else the game would become a joke with so many penalties called. They only call those penalties that are either A) very obvious (plays that are the focus of everyone's attention and that would make them look totally rediculous if it's not called. This includes plays resulting in injuries), or B) very distinctly give the team committing the penalty a real possibility to score or a distinct positional advantage. Along with this, there is indeed an "evening out" of penalties mindset that's in play, where if one team is getting all the powerplays, that team will get the ref's more acute focus on the many infractions they are committing in particular (and less focus on the other team's infractions being committed). Thus, penalities will very much even out over the course of a game. Refs obviously do this to give the impression of no favoritism or bias. This is why you see "chincy" calls happen on infractions that occur dozens of times in the game anyway. So, in essence, penalties are random events driven by A) and B) above, but overall are called somewhat randomly and with an eye towards being equal to both teams whether they commit them equally or not. This is how I see penalty calls, and now I rarely sweat a call and when it happens I just figure that "it's time for a call for so-and-so team"

So you want them to lose? I believe Phoenix is ranked #4, and Detroit #5...

Well, the Wings better come out on fire, because this will be the most physical game of the series, Doan or no Doan. Expect mega crashing and banging the first period. Now that their season is also on the line, the Wings should play with a lot more determination. I think the key is obviously to score first, otherwise the chances of them winning drop dramatically. 'Course, I predicted all this already, in the "Predictions for this series" thread, when they were down 2 games to 1: Posted 19 April 2010 - 08:27 AM

At least, one of his feet was..... YOU BE THE JUDGE: (Yes, Holmstrom was called for goalie interference in the top picture) SO THAT MAKES THIS......??? I'm personally fed up with NHL officiating and lack of consistency, the only way I keep my blood pressure down is to view penalties and powerplays as strictly random events. Works wonders!

Yes, he already scored... he deflected the puck in off of his stick into his own net on the first or second Nashville goal last night....

So which situation is worse, this one, or the one a few years ago when the Wings were down to the Canucks 2-0 and headed back to Vancouver? I believe they'll win Game 4 on Tuesday and then it's best of 3. My prediction is the road team wins all the last games - Wings in 7!

Hey, just wanted to know if anyone knows where the Wings will practice in Dallas this weekend... big Wings fan living here. I know they usually stay at the Renaissance hotel near downtown, but I could be wrong.

Thanks, man. Yeah, pretty sure that's where they stay, or maybe the Hilton-Anatole across the freeway, after flying into Love Field. I'd sure like to see them in person, it's been many years since I last got a live look at the team up close.

3rd paragraph down: Book excerpt describing Hasek practice shots

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Hasek actually requested guys to shoot at his head in practice, so that he could get used to high shots in the game, and combat the reflex to "duck". Sounds like the author is just trying to inject some drama where there probably wasn't any at all.

I don't think so... very minor considering all else that's gone on. Delaying the game a minute or two, compared to having a game-tying goal waived off in the last few minutes! I agree with a lot of what Drake says, and I don't believe in Ref conspiracy for one team to win. However, I do think that the overall refereeing standard has changed since the first round, with less and less things being called. When that happens, it neutralizes any difference in skill level between teams and favors the bigger, more physical team. If everything's getting called, a quicker, more skilled (on average, but also smaller) team such as the Wings generates more scoring opportunites and power plays by drawing penalties (hooking, holding, interference) using their skill and speed. The less things are called, the more that speed and skill is neutralized by the other team not being called on those penalties anymore. As an extreme example, if you have Helm vs. Gill (speed vs. size), Gill can now hook/hold/interfere and disrupt with relative impunity. Yes, Helm can do the same to Gill, but it's not going to have the same effect (Gill won't end up on his ass). Take that extreme example and apply it to the whole team, and you see how putting away the whistles favors the bigger, more physical team. Not to a huge extent as in the example, but averaged out to the whole team it does have an effect. Lidstrom gets a stick between the legs while being closest to the puck, guy who was BEHIND him gets the puck, goal is scored. His skill was just neutralized by a more physical approach. That's the overall effect we're seeing here, just like the last 2 times we played the Ducks in the playoffs. The first time, the Ducks approach won, this last time, the Wings managed to fight through it (and some things were still being called). The Refs aren't determining the games, but the way they've decided to call the penalties in the Finals is definitely favoring one style of play over the other.

I'll be watching at home... You might try the Fox and Hound pub on Midway in Addison (just south of George Bush tollway), that's where the U of M Alumni Club meets. There may be a few Michiganders there to watch the game.

According to the article on TSN.ca: The Bruins defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in six games to win the Stanley Cup in EA Sports' annual simulation of the 2009 NHL post-season. The simulation was conducted on the NHL 09 video game, which is made in Burnaby, B.C. Link: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=274940 Reminds me of that computer simulation from last year, which said that Sammy would score a hat-trick in Game 1 of the finals, and lo and behold, he scores 2! Are they going to do that simulation again this year?

He looks pretty good, but the goals were "drive to the net with your stick on the ice in a crowd" type goals. Not like he deked 3 people to score. He knew in Detroit he'd end up where Leino is now, in the minors and getting called up occasionally. Looking forward to the next Wings/Stars game for sure...

Tru dat - From MLive: An NHL official in the press box said it was reviewed by league officials in Toronto and was deemed a good goal because Champoux was in the offensive zone when he made contact with the puck. Not that NHL officials would admit any wrongdoing anyway...

Yeah, the playoffs are all about matchup, and not really rankings... it's the "second season" and many times it almost feels like a clean slate. Besides, teams have changed by the time the post-season starts - we swept Colorado in the regular season, but that was before they got Foote and Forsberg back and that other defenseman, and before we got Stuart. Other teams have had similar changes, plus players were in and out of the lineup during the seasonal games. So, regular season is a rough indicator of who's the favorite, but it's a whole new ballgame once the playoffs start. I think as well as the above differences, in the playoffs the physical play picks up and there's a lot more bodychecking. In the regular season Pav can beat defensemen one-on-one 'cause they go for the puck, whereas in the post-season the defense will automatically play the body much more and the games are a lot tighter. It seems to me like a different style of play. When the playoffs start I throw what's happened before out the window, and it's more about mental and physical toughness and a bit less about skill level.

I love Ron Wilson's take on this "Controversy" (which it wouldn't be if the NHL would have video review for all goals): "We got lucky probably on our goal, though it doesn't definitively hit the netting," Wilson said. "When I saw the replay, I thought it was stuck in somebody's equipment." LMFAO. He should run for president. I can hear his campaign sound bite now - "Panty Ho's, baby!"

Hall Gill to Pitsburgh

Hey, I'm just glad Anze Kopitar is going to be there, representin' the All Star +/- giants of hockey. Oh wait, he's -12 and 28th in the league in points. "All Star" Guess they just pick the dude with the most points from each team.

Looks like Roberto is not going to be the starter goalie for the West after all... http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=226854&hubname=nhl This MUST mean that Ozzie is in.. 4 starters from Detroit on the West team??? :rockstar: WHAT, they're going to send Pascal LeCLaire instead???