NHL Rules
Stop the GOALIE nonsense!
After watching the Carolina Hurricanes score with .2 seconds left, now begs the question.
Was Martin Brodeur interfered with a split second before the Canes scored?
Of course, Brodeur was “unintentionally” interfered with and the referee looking directly at the play did not call anything. That sequence cost the Devils the game and might have altered the series. After mulling about it the last 12 hours, I agree that it was the correct “non-call” because it is consistent the way the game was called all night. Moreover, let this be an important lesson for the New Jersey Devils.
This is a “gray” area that Brodeur and other NHL goaltenders will never win. Why bother arguing it over and over again? The “new NHL” wants more scoring even at the expense of goalies. Don’t believe me? First, it started with the ridiculous “trapezoid rule”, which limits a stick-handling skill. Since fall of 2005, it has been open season on goaltenders and last night, Brodeur was knocked over countless times, both in and out of the crease, and nothing was called. This is not to say the Canes are “cheap shots” because they are not. They are simply going hard to net and I commend them for that. Now, if I were Brent Sutter, I would ask the team to drive hard to the net “unintentionally” on Cam Ward.
According to Brodeur after the game, the referee said he had enough time to reset himself, even when being hit in the crease. Is that how the NHL referees are interpreting the rules? As long as the goaltender can reset, unintentional bumps on the goaltender are perfectly legal. If that is the case, players like Dainus Zubrus, David Clarkson, and Bobby Holik should be taking the puck and driving hard to net “unintentionally” every single time they are in the offensive zone. If Cam Ward gets knocked off his skates and has time to reset, in theory, no penalties will be called.
Hopefully, there will be no double standard.
Personally, I do not have a problem with “non-calls” as long as the referees call the games equally. I have seen Brodeur and other goalies getting knocked down constantly in the crease where crucial goals have determined the game winner. I can understand Brodeur’s frustration, but the real issue lies with the Devils’ defense. They need to better protect Brodeur from forwards getting near him and clear out the crease.
The Devils need to stop playing the perimeter game and try to aggressively attack the net on both sides of the ice. Last night, they only played well in the third period and almost “stole” a game from the Canes. The important lesson is to keep playing to win for sixty minutes and protect Brodeur at all costs. Game 5 will determine if the Devils have that tough mentality to overcome this obstacle of a heartbreaking loss and the recent day to day injuries to Bryce Salvador and Jamie Langenbrunner.
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