Refs this series!

[Nightfall 871]

The refs haven't been a factor yet. No moving on to a bigger issue: cheap attacks.

For those of us old enough to remember the 1980's-best decade ever BTW! The hockey was awesome! Stars didn't get touched. if they did, their bodyguard would set the other player straight asap! it was the best of both worlds. Lots of goals and lots of fights. When the NHL made the decision to "reduce" fighting, they everyone started to play clutch and grab hockey. For 20 years now we have been hearing how the NHL wants to open things up and increase scoring. Ok, let's do that. Get rid of all the penalties that were put in place to "reduce" fighting. Thengo back to 1 ref and let's have some damn fun already!

I will correct you on this point. The NHL didn't try to reduce fighting, but the system of hockey decided that for the NHL. When teams like the Devils could clutch and grab their way to a championship over more skilled teams, fighting really became irrevelant. Sure, teams could fight with the Devils, but the clutch and grab system really didn't replace fighting. The NHL really didn't go out to reduce fighting then.

I will say this, the penalties to reduce fighting haven't done that.

http://www.hockeyfights.com/stats/

At the same time though, I am on your side. I believe all penalties done to reduce fighting should be eliminated.

Abdelkader's major is everything that is wrong with the No Hitting League.

Hrm, he delivers a hit in which he leaves his feet less than 10 feet from a referee. With the ref having to make a call within seconds of the hit, I could see how the ref could have penalized him 2 minutes or 5 minutes. We will see what Shanahan says tomorrow.

[Richdg 267]

I will correct you on this point. The NHL didn't try to reduce fighting, but the system of hockey decided that for the NHL. When teams like the Devils could clutch and grab their way to a championship over more skilled teams, fighting really became irrevelant. Sure, teams could fight with the Devils, but the clutch and grab system really didn't replace fighting. The NHL really didn't go out to reduce fighting then.

I will say this, the penalties to reduce fighting haven't done that.

http://www.hockeyfights.com/stats/

At the same time though, I am on your side. I believe all penalties done to reduce fighting should be eliminated.

Hrm, he delivers a hit in which he leaves his feet less than 10 feet from a referee. With the ref having to make a call within seconds of the hit, I could see how the ref could have penalized him 2 minutes or 5 minutes. We will see what Shanahan says tomorrow.

Your stats on't cover the 80's when there was 1+ fights per game on average. The Devils started with the trap in the very early 90's, after the NHL tried to reduce fighting. Since you were no longer going to get your a$$ kicked, there was no problem with holding, checking from behind, interference, extra stick work etc......

No, can you imagine if there was no 2 line pass calls in the 80's? Gretzky and Mario may have had 250-300 points per year! How many would Datsyuk, Malkin, Ovechkin, Crosby etc... get in that era? Now that would be fun to watch!

[Guest DeGraa55]

I agree nightfall he left his feet and deserved penalty. I personally think he should of got 2 mins then 1 one game from shanahan. I think he got the 5 because the dude laid there forever and a day.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

I will correct you on this point. The NHL didn't try to reduce fighting, but the system of hockey decided that for the NHL. When teams like the Devils could clutch and grab their way to a championship over more skilled teams, fighting really became irrevelant. Sure, teams could fight with the Devils, but the clutch and grab system really didn't replace fighting. The NHL really didn't go out to reduce fighting then.

I will say this, the penalties to reduce fighting haven't done that.

http://www.hockeyfights.com/stats/

At the same time though, I am on your side. I believe all penalties done to reduce fighting should be eliminated.

Hrm, he delivers a hit in which he leaves his feet less than 10 feet from a referee. With the ref having to make a call within seconds of the hit, I could see how the ref could have penalized him 2 minutes or 5 minutes. We will see what Shanahan says tomorrow.

Abdelkader was on his feet until contact was made and the impact of the hit lifted him off his feet. Same thing happens each and every time someone gets Kronwalled. Physics take over... I'm just so tired of people not being able to take a hit in the NHL and keep the play going. Guys should just learn to keep their heads up.

I agree nightfall he left his feet and deserved penalty. I personally think he should of got 2 mins then 1 one game from shanahan. I think he got the 5 because the dude laid there forever and a day.

And that's the only reason a penalty was even called was cause he laid there for forever and a day. The ref nearest wasn't calling jack, and we tune back in after a tv timeout for roadkill control and Abs gets 5 and a game. NHL is bushleague.

[TheWolf 20]

Other than the penalty on Abs, the two that really irked me where the "hooking" calls. The one on Eaves where the Duck player basically throws his arms up and acts like he was murdered was an acting job, and they other on...Cleary was it? Stick lifting = hooking now, and that was a pathetic call.

Edited May 5, 2013 by TheWolf

[blgillett 48]

Really my complaint is the inconsistency it has changed from regular season to post season its changed from crew to crew and even from period to period. As we seen last night if you get your stick parallel to the ice it doesn't matter if you even touch the guy it will get called

[Icteria virens 11]

Go back and re-watch it, If Ab left his feet if was 1/2 a second before contact, seriously

second and very important point: where did Abs hit the Anaheim player first? was it his head? no. He hit him shoulder to shoulder, if you are trying to say that a player can control incidental follow thru at the speed the game is played you're crazy.

and how do you account for players of different sizes? a taller player making a check on a shorter player , well, it's going to be lined up a certain way, should taller players not be allowed to check shorter players?

also what if the player being checked bends down lower right before the hit or reaches with his stick for a pass that's just a big off, thus making him lower his body, this happens all the time, it happened on the big hit in the Montreal series, watch the player reach for the puck causing him to lower his upper body, how can a player react given a half second like that?

the real problem nobody talks about is the players have gotten bigger, faster, stronger, all the equipment has gotten bigger with hard molded plastic and the ice surface hasn't changed.