PTI on ESPN announces it live TV- "Garry Bettman Happiest Man Ali

[Guest E_S_A_D]

A national ESPN well respected television program just stated that Bettman needs this series to go at least 5-6 games. And it is 'fixed' by the refs for Pens to get the breaks. Wow, bold move, I just gained tons of respect for ESPN PTI.

[Yzermania 156]

I don't think there have been as many bulls*** calls as there have been bulls*** non-calls.

[robat 13]

I hate hearing these guys talk about hockey.

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

I hate hearing these guys talk about hockey.

Agreed. While I'm all about ESPN covering hockey... not those two.....

There have been missed calls on both sides. I say the more 5 on 5 hockey, the better.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Let me clarify... I shouldn't have posted in the poll- 'E_S_A_D' as being a conspiracy theorist. I like that they're letting them play. However, The non-call against Kunitz for the crosscheck to Franzen's Face/combined with the 25 second 6 men on the ice was horrid. Does Bettman as a business CEO want Pittsburgh to win? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT. As Messier said yesterday, "Crosby is the face of marketing of the NHL"... Bettman needs this.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Agreed. While I'm all about ESPN covering hockey... not those two.....

I say the more 5 on 5 hockey, the better.

THIS sums it up perfectly!!! No more calls on Ericcson for a false interference compared to the rest of the games calls for the game winning goal.

[b.shanafan14 733]

pretty obvious if PTI is picking up on it.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Whatever's in the cocktail of those voting 'called perfectly', may I buy some of your drink? I'm not kidding... I just bought 2 beautiful and delicious expensive bottles of 100% agave Mexican Tequila while visiting Mexico, and it doesn't help me think this series is 'called perfectly'.

[tommingthepuck96 1]

I saw this too, they also mentioned the pens might have played their worst game of the series last night.. Anyways I find it hard to believe that the young penguins are the least penalized team in the playoffs. Thats just not possible.

The events in game 3 is a normal occurence in the NHL, me and my buddies knew the wings had no chance to win this game, all 4 of us have been watching playoff hockey for years.... the refs just weren't going to let them go 3-0 in the series... But its not just the finals... throughout the playoffs game 3's have been called like this... the team leading 2-0 will naturally get the s***ty side of the calls in the third game. It happen in game 3 anahiem, (series was tied 1-1) and game 3 against chicago... Whether bettman is behind it is beyond me... But for those of us who have been watching NHL for years, know that the events of last game is no suprize...

Edited June 3, 2009 by tommingthepuck96

[#18 the _Hoss_ 2]

If anything it's the penalties they don't call on them.

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

I picked the "stop the conspiracy theory" one but my first choice would be "they are screwing up/missing calls for both teams". Hell they are human, it's gonna happen. I just want them to be consistent.

I'd bet there is a similar thread on any Pens fan site claiming an NHL conspiracy favoring the Wings to win again....

[master 0]

Happiest to be scrweing up a sports that we loved. Gosh, no wonder why Hockey is ranked 6th as America's sports. Let me see, Football, Baseball, Golf (tell me I didn't just put golf #3), Basketball (This is becoming more of a celebrity T.V show sports ads), Soccer, & Hockey.

[bonan78 1]

I voted that the Wings are getting more of the ref calls, becuase it's the calls that the refs have missed against the Penguins that are killing us. 30 seconds of too many players on the ice (notice I didn't say "too many men"), Orpik interfering, Cooke kicking Osgood, whoever it was that cross-checked Franzen across the side of the head, etc.

[master 0]

I voted that the Wings are getting more of the ref calls, becuase it's the calls that the refs have missed against the Penguins that are killing us. 30 seconds of too many players on the ice (notice I didn't say "too many men"), Orpik interfering, Cooke kicking Osgood, whoever it was that cross-checked Franzen across the side of the head, etc.

If Gary B*tchwomen and his sloppy second ref's want to screw the Wings, might as well let the whole pengoons bench onto the ice for all 3 periods. Like 18 vs 5.

[RedFX 48]

I'm all for letting the guys play. But in the case of last night, you can't be conservative with the whistle and then turn around and call a ticky-tack penalty on Ericsson. If you're going t let them play, let them play. But be consistent with what you call and what you let slide.

[greene709 27]

Anybody got a clip. I missed it tonight.

[Frozen-Man 144]

Wait. . .

Shouldn't the Wings already be out of the playoffs after they lost to the Blue Jackets in 6 in the first round?

Just kidding E_S_A_D. I don't think that the reffing has been that bias for or against the Wings there have been bad calls and non-calls both ways. I very rarely want to gripe about the refs but I must admit that the 25+ second too many men on the ice non-call is so unbelievable that it almost makes you think that there must be a conspiracy.

Edited June 3, 2009 by Frozen-Man

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

i don't think they have been that bad. if it was fixed the penhs would have had a penalty shot in game 1 for sure, and maybe even game 2. plus those two have no clue what their talking about. the black dude called sean avery, "john avery" two days ago, and called malkin "malikinov" yesterday.

their out to lunch.

the call on ericsson was as text book as you can get. cooke wasnt even the one dumping the puck in thats why he was called.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Wait. . .

Shouldn't the Wings already be out of the playoffs after they lost to the Blue Jackets in 6 in the first round?

Just kidding E_S_A_D. I don't think that the reffing has been that bias for or against the Wings there have been bad calls and non-calls both ways. I very rarely want to gripe about the refs but I must admit that the 25+ second too many men on the ice non-call is so unbelievable that it almost makes you think that there must be a conspiracy.

No problem. I was wrong on that, thank goodness, I've loved the playoffs.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

I almost got to say... there right, even though they don't like hockey.

[uk_redwing 495]

Did you guys not see the rule that you can have 6 skaters on the ice? Probably not cos it was only faxed to Pittsburgh.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Did you guys not see the rule that you can have 6 skaters on the ice? Probably not cos it was only faxed to Pittsburgh.

It's out in the news today breaking by TSN Canada that Wings players specifically heard the refs yelling to a Pens player "GET OFF THE ICE!!! GET OFF THE ICE!" instead of calling the penalty. I've been watching hockey for almost 30 years and that's the most blatant form of cheating that I've EVER heard of if true.

[Frozen-Man 144]

No problem. I was wrong on that, thank goodness, I've loved the playoffs.

I gotta agree the playoffs this year have been awesome. Lots of action, hitting, skill, and scoring almost every game. It has been great.

[Electrophile 3,554]

The refs are inconsistent, they've been missing a ton of calls on both sides. There is no conspiracy, there never was a conspiracy, there will never be a conspiracy.

All you wannabe Oliver Stones out there need to get a new hobby.

[Vincanni 1]

I voted that I'm sick of conspiracy theories, granted I don't see an argument for Pittsburgh. There is simply no motive for the officiating to favor the Wings in games 1 and 2 and the only remotely problematic instance was with Z blocking some goals, both of which where subjective calls given logical reasons behind being called the way they where. Also, In either case a good ref shouldn't make a call in the SCF with such a large consequence unless there is 100% objective data suggesting otherwise.

Now in game 3 the officials have a clear motive to support the Pens to draw out the series, which PTI highlighted and as far as I'm concerned place full faith in. I wouldn't call it a conspiracy however, its simply a known fact.