Hiller's pads

[Decoy Jones 0]

We lost Game 3. I get that, I really do. I think I'm more angry at the Wings for not really playing all that well in my opinion than at the refs for a bad call but last night I had a thought.

By the book the ref made the right call. Sure he was out of position, but he lost sight of the puck and blew the whistle. As much as I want it to be the wrong call it's not. If the same thing happened to Osgood and the Ducks I'd be the first yelling about how by the book that is the call that has to be made. However, that call wouldn't be made against Ozzie and almost every other goalie in the league for one simple reason. HILLER'S PADS ARE THE SAME COLOR AS THE PUCK! Ozzies pads are red and white so there is no way a black puck blends in. Most goalies pads are some color other than black. Even out of position the ref doesn't lose sight of a loose puck as easily.

With that in mind, does having black pads give a team an advantage and do you think the NHL should force goalies with black pads to change there color? If not, should Ozzie go to the store and buy some black spray paint for his pads?

[timothy1997 0]

We lost Game 3. I get that, I really do. I think I'm more angry at the Wings for not really playing all that well in my opinion than at the refs for a bad call but last night I had a thought.

By the book the ref made the right call. Sure he was out of position, but he lost sight of the puck and blew the whistle. As much as I want it to be the wrong call it's not. If the same thing happened to Osgood and the Ducks I'd be the first yelling about how by the book that is the call that has to be made. However, that call wouldn't be made against Ozzie and almost every other goalie in the league for one simple reason. HILLER'S PADS ARE THE SAME COLOR AS THE PUCK! Ozzies pads are red and white so there is no way a black puck blends in. Most goalies pads are some color other than black. Even out of position the ref doesn't lose sight of a loose puck as easily.

With that in mind, does having black pads give a team an advantage and do you think the NHL should force goalies with black pads to change there color? If not, should Ozzie go to the store and buy some black spray paint for his pads?

Nah. Bettman will just change the color of the puck this offseason to solve this problem. Plus it will be easier to "follow the puck" on tv to all those idiots that needed the glowpuck.

What do you guys think on the puck being PINK?

[thedisappearer 291]

His pads should be changed, but I am not talking about the color.

[Valas19 50]

His pads should be changed, but I am not talking about the color.

LOL

[Gizmo 21]

HILLER'S PADS ARE THE SAME COLOR AS THE PUCK! Ozzies pads are red and white so there is no way a black puck blends in. Most goalies pads are some color other than black. Even out of position the ref doesn't lose sight of a loose puck as easily.

With that in mind, does having black pads give a team an advantage and do you think the NHL should force goalies with black pads to change there color? If not, should Ozzie go to the store and buy some black spray paint for his pads?

You're correct that it's also upsetting when the Wings put themselves in a position where they have to worry about a single blown call making a difference. However changing the color of Hiller's pads, or pants, or whatever would have only removed the list of excuses the NHL would have to offer to defend the official. In my opinion, they likely had zero to do with it. A better option would be to tell the officials, that in the playoffs they need to add about a second to their internal "egg timer" to made darn sure the puck is actually covered before they commit to blowing their whistle... even more so when they're in a less than optimal position to see the play.

Edited May 6, 2009 by Gizmo

[PA-WINGFAN 0]

You're correct that it's also upsetting when the Wings put themselves in a position where they have to worry about a single blown call making a difference. However changing the color of Hiller's pads, or pants, or whatever would have only removed the list of excuses the NHL would have to offer to defend the official. In my opinion, they likely had zero to do with it. A better option would be to tell the officials, that in the playoffs they need to add about a second to their internal "egg timer" to made darn sure the puck is actually covered before they commit to blowing their whistle... even more so when they're in a less than optimal position to see the play.

I Agree 100% .. If we change his pad colors then we would have to go around to the rest of the Teams in the league that wear black uniforms and have them change too.. I think what should be done is that if a ref blows the whistle that the play is still reviewable upstairs to make sure something like this is possible avoided.. Not that the knuckle heads upstairs are any better!!

GO WINGS LETS GET THE NEXT 3

Edited May 6, 2009 by PA-WINGFAN

[Mors 201]

I'm still surprised that despite it being common knowledge, they allow him to play with the inner pads unbuckled creating an additional blocker on the inside of his legs. Commentators brought it up during the first game...seems even shadier than Michelin man's pads.

[Chairman Maouth 97]

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Nah. Bettman will just change the color of the puck this offseason to solve this problem. Plus it will be easier to "follow the puck" on tv to all those idiots that needed the glowpuck.

What do you guys think on the puck being PINK?

Change the puck to white, it will work, never wrong call again.

[OsGOD 3]

Players should also be only allowed to use White tape on the blades too.

All teams with black in the color scheme must change to a lighter color also in the post season... Get 'er dun Kenny! Tell Betty

[NHLrules? 32]

They have size rules in place, they just never enforce them.

[kidish 0]

Pad color should definitely be managed by the league for this exact reason. I doubt it will make officials less fallible, but it still evens the playing field.

[CenterIce 83]

Players should also be only allowed to use White tape on the blades too.

All teams with black in the color scheme must change to a lighter color also in the post season... Get 'er dun Kenny! Tell Betty

This is why goalies are not allowed to use black tape on their sticks, because it blends in. However, as someone alluded to, it is not the color of his pads that should be changed, it is the extra pad length at the top, that allows him to close his five hole, when he drops into the butterfly style.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Hitler is overrated.

We're just making him look good by constantly shooting the puck into his chest. Those kind of shots have nothing to do with his pads.

We need more screens and more deflections like we had against Columbus.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Hitler is overrated.

We're just making him look good by constantly shooting the puck into his chest. Those kind of shots have nothing to do with his pads.

We need more screens and more deflections like we had against Columbus.

This. Hiller is half the goalie Giguere is. You hit Giguere with a puck, and it disappears into his pads/jersey. You hit Hiller with a puck, and it ends up lying 2 feet, 4 feet, 50 feet away from the net/in the paint/next to the crease.

[Jocu 0]

I'm still surprised that despite it being common knowledge, they allow him to play with the inner pads unbuckled creating an additional blocker on the inside of his legs. Commentators brought it up during the first game...seems even shadier than Michelin man's pads.

... except for the fact that Giguere's pads are, you know, 100% legal?

From what I'm seeing, Hiller does that so the pads will fall a bit lower on his legs while in his wide stance, which means more room inbetween the gloves and the pads for a sniper to shoot on. If only we had some players with a good shot.

This is why goalies are not allowed to use black tape on their sticks, because it blends in. However, as someone alluded to, it is not the color of his pads that should be changed, it is the extra pad length at the top, that allows him to close his five hole, when he drops into the butterfly style.

Except Hiller has a pretty narrow butterfly, making the thigh rise a non-factor.

Maybe if we can get some real shots on him, we don't have to worry about his pads. Maybe stop aiming for the center of his chest?

[sean 19]

This. Hiller is half the goalie Giguere is. You hit Giguere with a puck, and it disappears into his pads/jersey. You hit Hiller with a puck, and it ends up lying 2 feet, 4 feet, 50 feet away from the net/in the paint/next to the crease.

Yeah, I am glad someone agrees with me on this. Hiller should be thanking his lucky stars that he's playing behind a talented D that adheres to a good defensive strategy. If we get after those rebounds, oh baby.

To be perfectly honest, Hiller has the worst mechanics of any NHL goalie I've ever seen. Maybe he's going to revolutionize the position, and I'm just a naysayer. He spends half the game on his knees, saves shots that don't even have a chance (in circumstances where a whistle wouldnt be of much strategic benefit), and has weird glove positioning. You can't deny his success, I guess.

I think the NHL will do something about the unbuckled pads this offseason.

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

I'm still surprised that despite it being common knowledge, they allow him to play with the inner pads unbuckled creating an additional blocker on the inside of his legs. Commentators brought it up during the first game...seems even shadier than Michelin man's pads.

I have noticed that to it basically takes away the 5 hole, and hiller would be giving up the 5 hole a lot because of how early he goes down.

Edited May 6, 2009 by MTU_Huskies963

[Jocu 0]

Yeah, I am glad someone agrees with me on this. Hiller should be thanking his lucky stars that he's playing behind a talented D that adheres to a good defensive strategy. If we get after those rebounds, oh baby.

To be perfectly honest, Hiller has the worst mechanics of any NHL goalie I've ever seen. Maybe he's going to revolutionize the position, and I'm just a naysayer. He spends half the game on his knees, saves shots that don't even have a chance (in circumstances where a whistle wouldnt be of much strategic benefit), and has weird glove positioning. You can't deny his success, I guess.

I'm sure he'll be much better when Francois Allaire is done molding him.

[CenterIce 83]

Hitler is overrated.

We're just making him look good by constantly shooting the puck into his chest. Those kind of shots have nothing to do with his pads.

We need more screens and more deflections like we had against Columbus.

Agreed. This is basically what it has come down to.

[vangvace 12]

We lost Game 3. I get that, I really do. I think I'm more angry at the Wings for not really playing all that well in my opinion than at the refs for a bad call but last night I had a thought.

By the book the ref made the right call. Sure he was out of position, but he lost sight of the puck and blew the whistle. As much as I want it to be the wrong call it's not. If the same thing happened to Osgood and the Ducks I'd be the first yelling about how by the book that is the call that has to be made. However, that call wouldn't be made against Ozzie and almost every other goalie in the league for one simple reason. HILLER'S PADS ARE THE SAME COLOR AS THE PUCK! Ozzies pads are red and white so there is no way a black puck blends in. Most goalies pads are some color other than black. Even out of position the ref doesn't lose sight of a loose puck as easily.

With that in mind, does having black pads give a team an advantage and do you think the NHL should force goalies with black pads to change there color? If not, should Ozzie go to the store and buy some black spray paint for his pads?

A reason that white pads are popular is that it gives the optical illusion that they are larger than they are. It's why Fleury changed from the god aweful yellow ones he used to wear to white.

[Jake Ryan 1]

All I want to know is why the Ducks are the ONLY team in the league that is allowed to have goalies with oversized equipment. Could you imagine if the Red Wings had Hiller and his enormous equipment in their net? They'd never get scored on. It would be a shut out half the games.

[Jocu 0]

All I want to know is why the Ducks are the ONLY team in the league that is allowed to have goalies with oversized equipment. Could you imagine if the Red Wings had Hiller and his enormous equipment in their net? They'd never get scored on. It would be a shut out half the games.