haroldsnepsts

That was a juicy rebound, but unless he managed to swallow that shot completely (which I wouldn't expect on a shot like that), Stalberg had a lot of room and time.

Poop. Flip playing too loose on his man.

I agree. But to be fair Jimmy being back has been a big factor too.

That's my big question. The announcers were saying Sheahan's stick knocked it out. But on the replay it looked like Hayes had it hanging half out of his mouth like Kane does. I can see a high stick knocking it all the way out of your mouth, but I don't get how it puts it in the side of your mouth with it curled around your cheek.

If he did indeed break his teeth, and Hayes had his mouthguard in properly at the time, then I agree. I just don't know for sure that those things are true (I'm not gonna take McGuire's word for it).

Fans from Quebec city applauding both teams.

hoping for a makeup call to negate some of this Hawk's PP.

Did the mouthguard come out or did he not have it properly in his mouth, Kane style?

Oops. Tough first shift Sheahan. That shouldn't be 4. God I hate that penalty.

Wow. I knew Toews has been out but didn't realize it's been 22 games.

Unfortunately the current system shows why the GM's will likely be reluctant to change it. Because of how hard it is to put distance on teams with the forced parity of the loser point, many playoff berths were decided in the last few games of the season. And even today the final game of the season will impact seeding. So these late games have meaning in a way they might not if you could actually put distance on your opponents.

As fun as that would be to watch, I'm guessing the league has had conversations with both organizations prior to this game. And they don't want anyone getting suspended for the postseason. Who knows though. I could be wrong and there's an all out brawl off the opening faceoff. Either way it should be an entertaining series.

Aren't these two teams locked into playing each other in the first round no matter what happens today? It that's the case, honestly I think they may just save it for when the games really count and play not to get injured today.

No! Not LA! They're my second favorite team and I'd like to watch them play at least one round without having to root against them. Those two bottom lines look interesting for the Wings. I guess Babcock is still trying to figure out a lineup where he can roll all four and have good things happen.

I won't repeat the whole post I made in the Penguins thread about this, but it's here if anyone wants to read it. But Shanny was on NHL live explaining why there was no suspension. Basically the GM's only wanted him to get involved with the most blatant and severe knee on knees. Based on the criteria they agreed on, this didn't meet it.

I was watching the NHL network and Shanny was on NHL live. EJ Hradek asked him about the Orpik hit, and they got into a lengthy discussion that was really interesting. Basically at the GM meeting Shanny and the league presented three different examples of knee on knee hits increasing in severity, and also in punishment. Asking if the GMs were ok with the level of punishment or if they wanted the league to be more involved like in the way of headshots and increase suspensions. The GM's said they were ok with the way it was, basically with only the absolute most blatant and severe knee on knee getting a suspension. One of the examples was a hit like Orpik's that only got a 2 minute kneeing penalty. That's why there was no suspension. Shanny was saying how he told the GM's "you're ok with there being no suspension for this type of hit right now in this meeting, but are you still going to be okay in April and May?" Then they thanked him for coming and said the fans appreciate it too. Shanny laughed and said sarcastically "oh yeah, I know the fans really appreciate it." He knows how much people complain about his decisions. The whole conversation was cool to hear and made me like Shanny even more.

Torres demonstrating he's still a worthless P.O.S. for jumping D'Agostini after a clean hit and going after him Tootoo style. Torres had punched him in the face 5 times before D'Agostini even had a chance to get the gloves off.

merged with existing thread.

When has this ever happened in the NHL? Let alone ALL THE TIME? I've never seen it or heard about it and I've been watching hockey a long time.

I'm guessing you'd feel differently if it happened to the Wings. The Kings were fighting for a playoff spot, as were the Sharks. It was a huge game. Tied, late in the third period, the Kings on a power play. It not only disrupted a rush into the offensive zone, it also should've put the Kings on a 5 on 3 power play. Who know what would've happened but if they score on that 5 on 3 they likely win the game outright and the Sharks aren't in the playoffs yet (at least don't think so. I can't keep track of all the possibilities based on what the other teams did). Aside from the circumstances of the game, it's just mind boggling that the refs missed it. A player reaching out into the field of play from the bench is a big deal. I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it in all my years of watching hockey, certainly with no penalty called. I've seen guys get involved from the bench where there's scrums there. Holding sticks or going after a player, but never seen one actually put his stick over the boards and onto the ice to disrupt a play. And I've been watching hockey for 30 years.

Add to it that both these teams are fighting for a playoff spot in a ridiculously close race. It's the third period with less than 3 minutes left, the score is tied and the Kings are already on a power play. If the refs are actually watching the puck, Clowe gets two minutes unsportsmanlike and the Kings go on a 5 on 3. Sharks ended up winning the game in a shootout. It was a huge missed call. And bad for the league if guys think it's ok to be reaching sticks over into the play.

Ahh, the "you've never done it so you dont' know like I do" explanation. You're making this sound like it was a run of the mill hook that didn't get called. Of course they're going to miss some things like that. Hockey is a fast moving game. Missing something behind the play is a lot more understandable. Missing something this obvious when it happens to the puck carrier is baffling. This was like it was straight out of Slapshot. A player from the bench reached his stick over and interfered with the puck carrier. That's beer league crap. And everyone saw it except the two referees. It's shocking that it was missed when it was so obvious. And both the tactic by Clowe and the fact he got away with it makes the NHL reffing look like a joke. Add to that it would've put the Kings on a 5 on 3 powerplay. That's not a little blown call. That's a major screw up by the refs. This isn't the best clip, but here's the YT of it. The image is overexposed so it's hard to see the stick, but it shows how it happened near center ice to the puck carrier. The ESPN clip is better.

Umm, yes I managed to grasp that complex concept. You do understand that one of the most important things going on in the game that the two referees should be watching is the guy carrying the puck up ice? I guess Couture could've sidestepped the whole issue by just tackling Stoll, since apparently both referees were watching those other things going on that were way more important than a Kings player trying to carry the puck into the offensive zone on a power play.

There's two refs. It happened to the guy carrying the puck. Neither ref was watching puck carrier?

As someone who is also a Kings fan, this makes me hate Clowe even more. Mostly because it's unbelievable that such a "Slapshot" like play could go unnoticed by the refs. It's just an example of how stupid Clowe is to even try a play like that. But unfortunately his stupidity is rewarded by the refs, who apparently weren't watching the puck carrier?? It also happened when the Kings were on a PP. So if the refs didn't have their heads up their asses it would've put the Kings on a 5 on 3, which is also why it was such idiotic move by Clowe.