I can see some validity in the league wanting the Leafs over the Bruins. But you really think the league would then want Tampa over the city of Boston? That's where your conspiracy theory loses value.
- LightningMcKing

That's polite.

Refs are old dudes trying to make judgement calls from weird angles during a game that's constantly moving at high speed.

There is no conspiracy. Just natural human incompetence from time to time. It generally even's out.

Why is everyone so naive to the fact that the NHL is sports ENTERTAINMENT. Just like wrestling. It is ruled by the all mighty dollar. The officials are on the ice to dictate the game. The playoffs are determined by the revenue and revenue is generated from the story lines. The two teams that would produce the most media coverage for the finals will be the two that make it. Team owners make most of their revenue from the gate sales. So making Toronto and Boston go 7 gave both owners the maximum amount of revenue for their expect playoff lifespan. Toronto or Boston weren't going farther than second round. Tampa and Boston will battle it out to play Pittsburgh for the east. Pittsburgh and Vegas would draw the most headlines for a final. Fleury and the castaway Knights will battle the Penguins and their quest for a three peat.

Back to the refs. Long ago we only had one ref to manage the games. But the fans cried because of all the missed calls. So the league decided to add a forth official. This was suppose to eliminate all of the missed calls. Really? There are more "missed" calls now than ever before. And now we have the situation room decided things on the ice from their secret office using camera angels that not everyone is privy to. And they still blow calls. Hmmm???

The problem with the Bruins is they are that good. The can dominate a game when they are allowed to get in their groove. They are clearly frustrated because of the things they can't control (the garbage reffing) Their last two games were horrible. All year long this team has been tenacious no matter the score (ie being down a goal or 2 or even 3). They are tired, injured and frustrated.

This team scares the league. They can beat anyone if its an evenly called game. I don't think they were suppose to make it out of the first round. After all, Matthews has the top selling jersey. But they beat the Leafs even with the officials against them. The league is not going to let that happen a second time.
- jakxx

If the NHL is rigged, why would they only allow 4 teams in the past 9 seasons to win the cup? Wouldn't they want a new team to win every year to grow the business? Isn't exactly entertaining when the same couple teams win every year.

Why is everyone so naive to the fact that the NHL is sports ENTERTAINMENT. Just like wrestling. It is ruled by the all mighty dollar. The officials are on the ice to dictate the game. The playoffs are determined by the revenue and revenue is generated from the story lines. The two teams that would produce the most media coverage for the finals will be the two that make it. Team owners make most of their revenue from the gate sales. So making Toronto and Boston go 7 gave both owners the maximum amount of revenue for their expect playoff lifespan. Toronto or Boston weren't going farther than second round. Tampa and Boston will battle it out to play Pittsburgh for the east. Pittsburgh and Vegas would draw the most headlines for a final. Fleury and the castaway Knights will battle the Penguins and their quest for a three peat.

Back to the refs. Long ago we only had one ref to manage the games. But the fans cried because of all the missed calls. So the league decided to add a forth official. This was suppose to eliminate all of the missed calls. Really? There are more "missed" calls now than ever before. And now we have the situation room decided things on the ice from their secret office using camera angels that not everyone is privy to. And they still blow calls. Hmmm???

The problem with the Bruins is they are that good. The can dominate a game when they are allowed to get in their groove. They are clearly frustrated because of the things they can't control (the garbage reffing) Their last two games were horrible. All year long this team has been tenacious no matter the score (ie being down a goal or 2 or even 3). They are tired, injured and frustrated.

This team scares the league. They can beat anyone if its an evenly called game. I don't think they were suppose to make it out of the first round. After all, Matthews has the top selling jersey. But they beat the Leafs even with the officials against them. The league is not going to let that happen a second time.
- jakxx

As a Leafs fan, I find this conspiracy theory pretty hard to agree with.

Why is everyone so naive to the fact that the NHL is sports ENTERTAINMENT. Just like wrestling. It is ruled by the all mighty dollar. The officials are on the ice to dictate the game. The playoffs are determined by the revenue and revenue is generated from the story lines. The two teams that would produce the most media coverage for the finals will be the two that make it. Team owners make most of their revenue from the gate sales. So making Toronto and Boston go 7 gave both owners the maximum amount of revenue for their expect playoff lifespan. Toronto or Boston weren't going farther than second round. Tampa and Boston will battle it out to play Pittsburgh for the east. Pittsburgh and Vegas would draw the most headlines for a final. Fleury and the castaway Knights will battle the Penguins and their quest for a three peat.

Back to the refs. Long ago we only had one ref to manage the games. But the fans cried because of all the missed calls. So the league decided to add a forth official. This was suppose to eliminate all of the missed calls. Really? There are more "missed" calls now than ever before. And now we have the situation room decided things on the ice from their secret office using camera angels that not everyone is privy to. And they still blow calls. Hmmm???

The problem with the Bruins is they are that good. The can dominate a game when they are allowed to get in their groove. They are clearly frustrated because of the things they can't control (the garbage reffing) Their last two games were horrible. All year long this team has been tenacious no matter the score (ie being down a goal or 2 or even 3). They are tired, injured and frustrated.

This team scares the league. They can beat anyone if its an evenly called game. I don't think they were suppose to make it out of the first round. After all, Matthews has the top selling jersey. But they beat the Leafs even with the officials against them. The league is not going to let that happen a second time.
- jakxx

Yes...the refs were clearly pro Toronto. It's a miracle you guys got past us.

PP Opportunities by game:
1> Bos 6, Tor 3
2> Bos 4, Tor 4
3> Bos 1, Tor 1
4> Bos 0, Tor 1
5> Bos 6, Tor 1
6> Bos 2, Tor 3
7> Bos 2, Tor 2
Tot> Bos 21, Tor 15



The B's beat us fair and square. To blame the refs for it even being close is just plain crazy.

Why is everyone so naive to the fact that the NHL is sports ENTERTAINMENT. Just like wrestling. It is ruled by the all mighty dollar. The officials are on the ice to dictate the game. The playoffs are determined by the revenue and revenue is generated from the story lines. The two teams that would produce the most media coverage for the finals will be the two that make it. Team owners make most of their revenue from the gate sales. So making Toronto and Boston go 7 gave both owners the maximum amount of revenue for their expect playoff lifespan. Toronto or Boston weren't going farther than second round. Tampa and Boston will battle it out to play Pittsburgh for the east. Pittsburgh and Vegas would draw the most headlines for a final. Fleury and the castaway Knights will battle the Penguins and their quest for a three peat.

Back to the refs. Long ago we only had one ref to manage the games. But the fans cried because of all the missed calls. So the league decided to add a forth official. This was suppose to eliminate all of the missed calls. Really? There are more "missed" calls now than ever before. And now we have the situation room decided things on the ice from their secret office using camera angels that not everyone is privy to. And they still blow calls. Hmmm???

The problem with the Bruins is they are that good. The can dominate a game when they are allowed to get in their groove. They are clearly frustrated because of the things they can't control (the garbage reffing) Their last two games were horrible. All year long this team has been tenacious no matter the score (ie being down a goal or 2 or even 3). They are tired, injured and frustrated.

This team scares the league. They can beat anyone if its an evenly called game. I don't think they were suppose to make it out of the first round. After all, Matthews has the top selling jersey. But they beat the Leafs even with the officials against them. The league is not going to let that happen a second time.
- jakxx

(frank)ing stop with this crap. losers go with this stuff.

Why is everyone so naive to the fact that the NHL is sports ENTERTAINMENT. Just like wrestling. It is ruled by the all mighty dollar. The officials are on the ice to dictate the game. The playoffs are determined by the revenue and revenue is generated from the story lines. The two teams that would produce the most media coverage for the finals will be the two that make it. Team owners make most of their revenue from the gate sales. So making Toronto and Boston go 7 gave both owners the maximum amount of revenue for their expect playoff lifespan. Toronto or Boston weren't going farther than second round. Tampa and Boston will battle it out to play Pittsburgh for the east. Pittsburgh and Vegas would draw the most headlines for a final. Fleury and the castaway Knights will battle the Penguins and their quest for a three peat.

Back to the refs. Long ago we only had one ref to manage the games. But the fans cried because of all the missed calls. So the league decided to add a forth official. This was suppose to eliminate all of the missed calls. Really? There are more "missed" calls now than ever before. And now we have the situation room decided things on the ice from their secret office using camera angels that not everyone is privy to. And they still blow calls. Hmmm???

The problem with the Bruins is they are that good. The can dominate a game when they are allowed to get in their groove. They are clearly frustrated because of the things they can't control (the garbage reffing) Their last two games were horrible. All year long this team has been tenacious no matter the score (ie being down a goal or 2 or even 3). They are tired, injured and frustrated.

This team scares the league. They can beat anyone if its an evenly called game. I don't think they were suppose to make it out of the first round. After all, Matthews has the top selling jersey. But they beat the Leafs even with the officials against them. The league is not going to let that happen a second time.
- jakxx

yo.

You know when you are complaining about the refs, that your not playing nearly well enough!

Tale of the game: Marchand skates by, after the play, and puts a stick into Killorn's face. Killorn skates around and comes back, calmly. Ref gives Marchand an ear-full.

See later: Marchand being angry about the Stralman call (due to the last game's Stralman non-call), the white flag in the penalty box, getting ejected, Krug's headlock on point, someone ran Cirelli...etc...etc.

The Bs were undisciplined, plain and simple. Tampa, by comparison, probably got into the refs heads a tad with things like Killorn taking a stick to the face and figuratively walking away whistling.

I imagine Chara and Bergeron will sort that situation out. I expect to see discipline restored on the ice for the Bruins tonight.

I am normally a huge Bruins hater, but now that we are in the playoffs and the games are being broadcast on National tv, I don't mind them.

Jack Edwards angers me almost as much as Barry Trotz. Man that guy is a tool and has the most annoying accent I've ever heard in my life.

You beat the Leafs, get over it. Leafs have been gone for a week, yet you still feel the need to bring them up? sad
- claude1971

Oh (frank) off. All you (frank)ing losers did was whine the whole series.

EDIT: You jackasses even tried to claim Marchand setup Reilly to get hit by Chara's knuckling slap shot. You're pathetic.

I am normally a huge Bruins hater, but now that we are in the playoffs and the games are being broadcast on National tv, I don't mind them.

Jack Edwards angers me almost as much as Barry Trotz. Man that guy is a tool and has the most annoying accent I've ever heard in my life.
- bochangs

Kinda hard not to like the Bruins. Okay, Marchand blah blah blah... whatever... I'd have him on my team any day.

I am normally a huge Bruins hater, but now that we are in the playoffs and the games are being broadcast on National tv, I don't mind them.

Jack Edwards angers me almost as much as Barry Trotz. Man that guy is a tool and has the most annoying accent I've ever heard in my life.
- bochangs

Needs to walk off into the sunset alongside Rene Rancourt. He's horrendous.

If the NHL is rigged, why would they only allow 4 teams in the past 9 seasons to win the cup? Wouldn't they want a new team to win every year to grow the business? Isn't exactly entertaining when the same couple teams win every year.
- Streit2ThePoint

I thought dangerous hit on Pasta by Girardi was pretty obvious. That has been a no brainer penalty for quite some time to protect the players. Thankfully he was not hurt.

Everybody knows NHL officials are flipping coins to decide calls. It's been that way for years. Blame Bettman and Campbell for that - they apparently have no problem with how the games are called. That is dereliction of duty and both should be fired.

Hearing Bruins players and their fans whine about officiating is the definition of irony.

The same team that broke every rule in the book in 2011, is upset that Daddy Jacobs can't buy them a game or two.

Please.

Hearing Bruins players and their fans whine about officiating is the definition of irony.

The same team that broke every rule in the book in 2011, is upset that Daddy Jacobs can't buy them a game or two.

Please.
- Slip and slap

Everybody knows NHL officials are flipping coins to decide calls. It's been that way for years. Blame Bettman and Campbell for that - they apparently have no problem with how the games are called. That is dereliction of duty and both should be fired.
- GalacticStone

Bettman has commissioned over 3 lockouts. He shouldn't be fired, he should be set adrfit.

Anthony Travalgia: Bruins getting significantly less power plays than other second round teams

- Anthony Travalgia

*fewer

Hearing Bruins players and their fans whine about officiating is the definition of irony.

The same team that broke every rule in the book in 2011, is upset that Daddy Jacobs can't buy them a game or two.

Please.
- Slip and slap

the Butthurt still runs deep in this one....

Donato in

https://nesn.com/2018/05/...forward-is-in-for-game-4/

I imagined two possible outcomes for this series and I think it's headed towards one of them. The first was a Bruins blitz and collapse by Tampa with the series ending in 5 games. The other outcome was a 7-game war of attrition. The first outcome is not a possibility now. I cannot envision the Bruins losing this game - I just hope the Bolts can weather the storm and emerge from Boston with a split and no injuries. Then it's a best of 3 with 2 games on Tampa ice, and I like those odds.

I am not complaining about the officiating because it against Boston. The officiating is coming from above (the script). Do you honestly believe that the owners invest millions of dollars leave the return up to 22 players and a coach?

The Bruins winning in 11 was clear that it was their "turn". Hell they waited 40 years to get it. It's all about attendance. The Bruins were losing out on sellouts. I heard last week that they have had 380+ consecutive sellouts. Add up all the 41 games a year and that brings us all the way back to just before they won the cup. Having a team win the cup that doesn't fill the arena continuously is a sure fire way to get a$$es in the seats.

I know the argument is going to come that the leafs haven't won in 60+ years. That's because they sellout the arena whether they win or lose. Same with Montreal. The worst thing for the league would be to have two Canadian teams in the finals. The US networks wouldn't want to cover the finals and the league would lose exposure in the US.

P.S. this is fun. Stirring the pot!!!

Bettman has commissioned over 3 lockouts. He shouldn't be fired, he should be set on fire.
- glove_was_stuck

Fixed.