Didn't hear it from me. My thing with bad calls is this...they happen and they are part of the game. If you give the ref a chance to make a bad call they will. No crying from me in game 2. Sharks screwed up and paid for it. Even with the push he could have skated around Niemi...maybe turned his skates to try to stop..no attempt to stop and what can be a weak call was made.
- Ryman
I know, my statement was for the many who were trying to justify the calls made in game 3 after screaming bloody murder about calls in game 2. My trolling was for the numerous hypocrytes that I saw on here. I was pretty quiet before that.
I personally think the reffing has been terrible both ways. You are right, he could have skated around Niemi and at any other point in the game I, myself, would have called that a penalty. Here's the thing: At other points in the game they didn't! Just like the delay of game call against the Sharks was BS.
In both cases given the circumstances:
In a 2nd round playoff that is very close with less than 2 minutes to play, you give the SJ player the benefit of the doubt and take a good look that the puck probably skimmed Carter's jersey and you don't put that team down 2 men with that much left to play.
You also call the play with Lewis dead so the Kings don't get a goal or an advatage just like I've seen them do the 20 other times both teams ran into the goalie and they didn't call a penalty at all, and you don't put a team down 2 men with that much left to play.
I feel they as referees are strongly influencing the outcome of the games in my opinion and that is wrong. Let these teams duke it out themselves, it's a great series already. Stay the freak out of it, 2 teams is enough, we don't need a 3rd.
