Is it just me or does anyone else notice...

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Maybe it's just me. I watch a lot of games or so my wife tells me. Over the last month or so I'm noticing a lot of pucks, more than I ever recall, hitting and getting caught up in the skates of referees and linesmen along the boards. A lot of them are happening when a defenseman is trying to reverse the flow of play in his own end and throw it back around to a winger. A few are on shoot ins and many are late in games on attempted clears or, with less than a minute to play, "just get rid of it" plays. It hasn't cost the Wings goal yet and I haven't seen it adversely affect the outcome of any game I've watched but it would seem if it IS happening it's only a matter of time before it does.

I know officials don't WANT to ever be involved in the play and do their best to contort themselves out of the way when possible, it just seems like it's happening more than I ever remember before.

Your thoughts?

Edited March 13, 2009 by Jersey Wing

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

Maybe it's just me. I watch a lot of games or so my wife tells me. Over the last month or so I'm noticing a lot of pucks, more than I ever recall, hitting and getting caught up in the skates of referees and linesmen along the boards. A lot of them are happening when a defenseman is trying to reverse the flow of play in his own end and throw it back around to a winger. A few are on shoot ins and many are late in games on attempted clears or, with less than a minute to play, "just get rid of it" plays. It hasn't cost the Wings goal yet and I haven't seen it adversely affect the outcome of any game I've watched but it would seem if it IS happening it's only a matter of time before it does.

I know officials don't WANT to ever be involved in the play and do their best to contort themselves out of the way when possible, it just seems like it's happening more than I ever remember before.

Your thoughts?

Bettman....i dunno, somehow its his fault...

[ComradeWasabi 109]

Not much to do about it. It's not like they can start calling the play dead when the puck hits the ref. You'll have players taking legal potshots at them all night long in their own zone.

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Not much to do about it. It's not like they can start calling the play dead when the puck hits the ref. You'll have players taking legal potshots at them all night long in their own zone.

No I know there's nothing preemptive that can be done, it just seems like it's happening with much more regularity for some reason. Maybe they are all on a Koharski diet or something and not as fleet afoot

[ComradeWasabi 109]

Wellwood gave them his Jenny Craig meal plan.

[Earthhuman 8]

They might be tired since it's later in the season, but I doubt that. If it keeps up, you could be on to something. It's just a coincidence at this point, though.

[Dano33 41]

For some reason it seems to me like sometimes the refs try to look good while getting out of the way instead of doing anything they can to stay away from the puck/play. Obviously i don't know this for a fact, but it kinda annoys me.

[MotorCityMadness 388]

It does seem like that is happening a little more frequently than what would seem like the norm, but thats hockey, nothing you can do about it. I have been reffing for the last 10 yrs now and I mean it happens when there is no chance to get out of the way, but I always try my best to anticipate the play happening and then move to an area that is open...if I turn my head to avoid getting hit I would always expect my partner to cover me if there is an infraction occuring and I don't have my eyes on it, but thats just me