The New NHL

[talex 1]

1st congrats to the Pens for tying up the series, they took advantage opportunities and walked away with a win against a horrible RedWing performance on D tonight.

2nd I am sure there have been threads on this before, so apologies and feel free to move along if you are not interested.

During tonights game I had several freinds over who are casual wings fans because I got them into it and the second they showed the offsides on the 1st goal they all pretty much said, he lets go see that Wolverine movie, the wings are going to loose, I asked what was up and they said between the Malkin non call and the 6 man thing that the games were a joke, I did not feel so strongly and wanting to root my team on I choose to stay and watch, they went to a movie... nice.

That said, I do not know how much longer I can keep watching NHL games any more, especially in the playoffs... it has become a joke. I counted a ton of no call's tonight, several on the Wings and about 8 on the Pens before I stopped counting in the 2nd period, this is not why the Pens won, so I am not crying about the loss but the rules are so willy nilly anymore it is nearly impossible to stay vested.

The no goal call in the Ducks series, the to many men on the ice, no Wings PP instead Pens get a power play score the winning goal, tonight 1st goal scored on an offsides play, that goal never goes in who knows where momentum carries the game (although with as crappy as they playes in the 2nd I think outcome is the same). Many of these calls/no calls are costing important games.

We also have the Pens fans screaming a storm up about call's, this is not just this game or that game... this is the norm in this league now.

Many people are making fun of the fact that VS has the Stanely Cup Finals during the week and not a more major network such as ESPN or NBC etc, the NHL is right where it belongs right now, it is a joke, getting harder to take seriously simular to the WWF except in this case it because officiating is playing a far larger role in the games than it should be.

I am a longtime fan of Hockey and the Wings, but to loose a game in the playoffs and then another in the finals in the same year due to officiating is asking alot of fans to overcome and take the game seriously and stay vested in the sport, this applies to fans of all teams. When the announcers are constantly on this as well it points to a serious issue which is not being addressed.

Each game it is getting a little harder to vest and take seriously, exciting yes but like my friends decided... so is a movie.

Something needs to be done, what I do not know. I thought giving a coach the ability to challenge might be a possible way to aid the situation but I am not even sure if that will solve this.

Anyways, my rant but I feel pretty strongly about it.

[Pavel Hossyukstrom 2]

Also Voracek, I think it was him in the Columbus series, skates with 2 sticks in his hands for almost 20 secs and no penalty. Not like we needed it in that game. We won 4-0 against the BJs. But I here ya. Calls so blatant that it's obvious makes you wonder sometimes.