I'm Scared...

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

Ok, I know in the NHL the team that is down in the game and down in the series will get favrable calls, and I am at peace with that because sometimes the Wings are that team.

However, I expect Game 5 to raise that theory to catastrophic heights. Consider the issues:

- Crosby and Pitt are the face/team of the new NHL and their marketing campaign. Their success, in the NHL's eyes, mean success for the league in the U.S.

- Therrien and Crosby have bitched and whined after every loss, and I (and I think Babs during his PC) believe that it was the reason for the 5 on 3 tonight. So giving the Pens a win in Game 5 would probably calm them and the fans.

- Detroit is the "evil empire" and most fans of other teams want them to lose. IMO, more people will watch a game to see the Wings lose than to see them win. And a loss in Game 5 will give more ratings for the casual viewer and the hardcore fan. Plus, Game 6's ratings will also be higher.

Now, I'm sure people will call most of this "conspiracy" talk unfounded, but I was really sickened at the 5 on 3 late in the game. Technically, it was a penalty, but a lot of more sure fire penalties were uncalled. A so/so penalty call in that situation is suspicious.

But, if the game is called evenly I will not be surprised... but I am not expecting it.

[Mule Train 0]

I'm not worried anymore. We took the best shot the refs could throw at us tonight and still came out with the W. We control the game and get last change on ice that wont be the s***ty, cut up surface the Pens had tonight. Sid the Kid and his collection of asshats are done Monday night; regardless of how many goals get disallowed or bogus PPs they get. Stanley comes home to Detroit Monday night!!!!!

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

I'm not worried anymore. We took the best shot the refs could throw at us tonight and still came out with the W. We control the game and get last change on ice that wont be the s***ty, cut up surface the Pens had tonight. Sid the Kid and his collection of asshats are done Monday night; regardless of how many goals get disallowed or bogus PPs they get. Stanley comes home to Detroit Monday night!!!!!

All true, the Wings cannot be stopped if they play like they did in Games 1 and 2. I'm just prepared to see some lopsided officiating.

[Doggy 130]

League officials are not going to conspire against Detroit. That's something Therrien would say about Pittsburgh.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

yea well theyve been trying to let them win all series

[Reds4Life 51]

Refs were bad, but there were weak calls on both teams.

Overall, they have been fair imho.

[Nev 1,085]

Yeah, that 5on3 was soft even if it was by the letter of the law (but the entire game would have been played 3v3 if they'd called the entire game like that).

Other than a couple of outrageous calls/missed calls, the refs haven't been that bad IMO. Not bad enough to cost us a game anyway.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

League officials are not going to conspire against Detroit. That's something Therrien would say about Pittsburgh.

QFT.....and it shouldn't matter. If the Wings play their game (especially the one they did in Games 1 & 2) they'll be in good shape.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Yeah, that 5on3 was soft even if it was by the letter of the law (but the entire game would have been played 3v3 if they'd called the entire game like that).

Other than a couple of outrageous calls/missed calls, the refs haven't been that bad IMO. Not bad enough to cost us a game anyway.

I rewatched the game immediately after the interviews ended, and you can see Crosby jump at Lilja and promptly fall down. He was attempting to get a call rather than making a hockey move.

[Mule Train 0]

League officials are not going to conspire against Detroit. That's something Therrien would say about Pittsburgh.

QFT. All Pitt whining aside, the level of game throwing needed to get three Pittsburgh wins now by the officials would enter the realm of pro wrestling buffoonery. Nothing is going to stop Detroit now from hoisting the cup.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Ok, I know in the NHL the team that is down in the game and down in the series will get favrable calls, and I am at peace with that because sometimes the Wings are that team.

However, I expect Game 5 to raise that theory to catastrophic heights. Consider the issues:

- Crosby and Pitt are the face/team of the new NHL and their marketing campaign. Their success, in the NHL's eyes, mean success for the league in the U.S.

- Therrien and Crosby have bitched and whined after every loss, and I (and I think Babs during his PC) believe that it was the reason for the 5 on 3 tonight. So giving the Pens a win in Game 5 would probably calm them and the fans.

- Detroit is the "evil empire" and most fans of other teams want them to lose. IMO, more people will watch a game to see the Wings lose than to see them win. And a loss in Game 5 will give more ratings for the casual viewer and the hardcore fan. Plus, Game 6's ratings will also be higher.

Now, I'm sure people will call most of this "conspiracy" talk unfounded, but I was really sickened at the 5 on 3 late in the game. Technically, it was a penalty, but a lot of more sure fire penalties were uncalled. A so/so penalty call in that situation is suspicious.

But, if the game is called evenly I will not be surprised... but I am not expecting it.

Sorry, but conspriacy theories are a waste of time. As much as we piss and moan about the NHL/Bettman, they don't do conspiracy theories.

[Louisville 112]

I'm just thinking, somewhere there is a man named Bettman who is sweating at the thought of having to present the cup in Detroit.

[Mule Train 0]

I'm just thinking, somewhere there is a man named Bettman who is sweating at the thought of having to present the cup in Detroit.

The only thing Bettman gets sweaty over is the thought of Cindy Crosby.

[Nev 1,085]

I rewatched the game immediately after the interviews ended, and you can see Crosby jump at Lilja and promptly fall down. He was attempting to get a call rather than making a hockey move.

Oh, there's no question that Crosby took a dive. Lilja moving 6 inches to the right gave Crosby the chance to take the dive and the refs bought it. Like I said, that kind of "interference" happens 100 times a game and every other player on the ice would battle through it and fight for the puck. Except Crosby

[servo 15]

Sorry folks, that was obstruction no matter how you look at it. The penalty was legit. Lilla impeded the progress in the offensive zone. He should have at least layed him out and made it worth it. Get over it.

[Mule Train 0]

Sorry folks, that was obstruction no matter how you look at it. The penalty was legit. Lilla impeded the progress in the offensive zone. He should have at least layed him out and made it worth it. Get over it.

By strict interpretation of the rules I agree. The problem I have is this ticky-tack crap gets let go a hundred times a game when it's any of the other twenty players. Penalties used to be rare in the playoffs; now stringing 5 minutes together without one is the rarity. They'll let someone bust Lidstrom in the mouth with a stick and not call anything but let Cindy the Jake cartwheel across the ice like he is the incarnation of Peter Forsberg and he gets the penalty every time.

I don't even think 5 on 3 should ever be called unless the second infraction is a stick foul, intent to injure, etc. Obstruction is nothing but a judgement call and, at least on face, it looked like nothing but a way to get the Pens back into the game.

[The Secret 304]

QFT.....and it shouldn't matter. If the Wings play their game (especially the one they did in Games 1 & 2) they'll be in good shape.

I agree with this, we have a better and more composed team right now. We will win because we have out played them and deserve to win. PERIOD. Whining about some obstruction by the Pens may cause the refs to be more sensitive to it, Rafalski was guilty on both accounts btw. And if we are obstructing we should get penalized. I want a win because we are better and deserve it..... and there is no doubt at all that we are, and we will win because of it.

GO WINGS!

[The Secret 304]

That 5 on 3, whether it was a legit call, conspiracy call, reputation call.. or a Bull s*** call showed one thing clean and clear. The Wings are for real!! If anyone anywhere had any doubts about The Red Wings of 07/08 that 5 on 3 shut down showed everyone watching that we are number 1 because we are the best in the world! That PK was so huge, and showed why we are where we are and against "the most potent offense in the NHL". Cheers to our boys!

And I give the one fingered salut to the Winey Pens fans, Disbelievers, Conspiracy Theorists, and all who hate the Red Wings!

[Firehawk 305]

Yeah, that 5on3 was soft even if it was by the letter of the law (but the entire game would have been played 3v3 if they'd called the entire game like that).

Other than a couple of outrageous calls/missed calls, the refs haven't been that bad IMO. Not bad enough to cost us a game anyway.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and actually say that the Wings should never have put the ref in a position to make the call to put them down 5 on 3. To me it looked incidental (Lilja or whomever it was didn't go out of his way to impede crosby, but he ran into him and that's obstruction). The call was the correct call to make. I threw my hands up and thought "well, it's tied" when that happened, because I didn't think there was a chance in hell we were surviving that without allowing a goal.

The refs let alot go tonight, alot for us as well. I kind of liked it. Let the boys play.

[Firehawk 305]

I'm also going to go ahead and admit that Im not worried in the least now. The wings are going to beat the hell out of Pitt in game 5, I bet it's another shutout. WIth the cup on the line, come on. Plus we haev the last change, which means we can get Lids and Raffy, Dats and Zett against Crosby's line all night.

Edited June 1, 2008 by Firehawk

[Nightfall 871]

I have been watching a lot of hockey this playoff season, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that these conspiracy theories are just that. Theories.

There hasn't been a single instance of that kind of thing in my recent memory. The referees of the NHL are, in my mind, the best professional refs of all the pro sports. Sure, they make mistakes. They call the game based on their perception of the play that going on in front of them. Armchair hockey fans watching on NBC are going to agree/disagree with the calls they make. However, they aren't in place to break the game. Just to enforce the rules.

Once again, I will say that not many wings fans are complaining about the reffing of Game 4. They are worried about the calls of game 5. Now, I wonder why wings fans aren't upset about the reffing of game 4? Maybe because they won?

Personally, I find the conspiracy theories and the ref bashing on this board sickening. I bet that 98% of the people here have never put on skates and reffed a single entire game. IMHO, you can't comment on the reffing if you have never done that. As a ice hockey and roller hockey ref, I can tell you its a tough job. You want to make sure that every call is a good one. You want to make sure the calls are accurate. If you see a trip and call it, and then you watch the game tape and it was actually a dive, you feel terrible for missing it. However, its all based on perception. Human beings will always make mistakes or see things differently than someone watching on a television screen or from the stands.

Just my .02 cents.

[Wingman 0]

Are refs explicitly instructed to favour certain teams? Most likely no. It would be a tremendous risk for the league, and probably illegal too.

Do refs occasionally feel an implicit pressure, from the league, media etc to favour certain teams? More likely, but I think this wind can blow both either way during series and even games. As fans I think we often way overestimate the actual motivation behind calls we see as unfavourable to our team. We simply make biased judgments.

I'm not worried anymore. We took the best shot the refs could throw at us tonight and still came out with the W. We control the game and get last change on ice that wont be the s***ty, cut up surface the Pens had tonight. Sid the Kid and his collection of asshats are done Monday night; regardless of how many goals get disallowed or bogus PPs they get. Stanley comes home to Detroit Monday night!!!!!

Quoted for truth. If there's been any "shot" at us this far I actually believe it's more likely we will be favoured from now on. Let's hope the refs think "ok, I gave those spoiled Pens a couple of breaks and they still couldn't utilize, now they're on their own..."

Edited June 1, 2008 by Wingman

[Misty Belle 0]

Sorry folks, that was obstruction no matter how you look at it. The penalty was legit. Lilla impeded the progress in the offensive zone. He should have at least layed him out and made it worth it. Get over it.

by the strictest interrpretation of the rules it probably was obstruction but you have to also admit that Crysby did jump at Lilja and embellish.

Maybe Crysby has a blow-up doll that looks like Andreas Lilja?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I have been watching a lot of hockey this playoff season, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that these conspiracy theories are just that. Theories.

There hasn't been a single instance of that kind of thing in my recent memory. The referees of the NHL are, in my mind, the best professional refs of all the pro sports. Sure, they make mistakes. They call the game based on their perception of the play that going on in front of them. Armchair hockey fans watching on NBC are going to agree/disagree with the calls they make. However, they aren't in place to break the game. Just to enforce the rules.

Once again, I will say that not many wings fans are complaining about the reffing of Game 4. They are worried about the calls of game 5. Now, I wonder why wings fans aren't upset about the reffing of game 4? Maybe because they won?

Personally, I find the conspiracy theories and the ref bashing on this board sickening. I bet that 98% of the people here have never put on skates and reffed a single entire game. IMHO, you can't comment on the reffing if you have never done that. As a ice hockey and roller hockey ref, I can tell you its a tough job. You want to make sure that every call is a good one. You want to make sure the calls are accurate. If you see a trip and call it, and then you watch the game tape and it was actually a dive, you feel terrible for missing it. However, its all based on perception. Human beings will always make mistakes or see things differently than someone watching on a television screen or from the stands.

Just my .02 cents.

I find the conspiracy theory thoughts here as well as the Penguins fans moaning about "obstruction" and the fans of both teams going back and forth yapping at each other pretty lame as well.

I know there is a fan aspect of the game and I'm all for friendly trash talk and ribbing on each other and things like that, but some of the yapping back and forth between the teams' fans has gotten pretty absurd at times. Part of me wants this series to end Monday/ASAP just to put an end to all of these shenanigans (that's a word I haven't said/typed in a long while ) from the fans of both teams.

Edited June 1, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan

[Firehawk 305]

I find the conspiracy theory thoughts here as well as the Penguins fans moaning about "obstruction" and the fans of both teams going back and forth yapping at each other pretty lame as well.

I know there is a fan aspect of the game and I'm all for friendly trash talk and ribbing on each other and things like that, but some of the yapping back and forth between the teams' fans has gotten pretty absurd at times. Part of me wants this series to end Monday/ASAP just to put an end to all of these shenanigans (that's a word I haven't said/typed in a long while ) from the fans of both teams.

What's the other part of you want? To go to game 7? Goodness...