I used to live for Sportscenter. Now the whole network is a joke.
- MBFlyerfan

I haven't watched that network in years.

What are the thoughts on Kubina?
- flyguy12

He was practicing with Shelley for the last couple of days, that pretty much sums it up. Must have an injury that is hurting his play.

Anyone else finding it hard to concentrate at work today?
- Manitobakid

LOL how did you guess?

Plus, my ankle is KILLING me. Thank goodness for some ibuprofen and perc

I thought at the end of last season Buffalo was going to be one of the best teams in the East this year. I guess its fair to say they were a disappointment.
- stveshdy

Mix of injuries and pressure got to the players. Ah well, I'm just happy that this trainwreck of a season is over. I'm excited for your game later, should be a great series

No the game was not predetermined to be officiated with prejudice. It would have been the same for both teams on a hit such as the one Rinaldo made. As I've already explained. It had nothing to do with prejudice as far as one team or another. As far as the type of player making the hit and his reputation, absolutely. But that again wasn't a one sided prejudice against just one team and not the other. If McIntyre had made the same hit, I beleive the same call would of been made, as was made against Rinaldo. They were going to call it that tight out of the gate.
And also it wasn't just that the game was meaningless. It was due to what happened in the previous game, and the upcoming playoff matchup.
The call on Rinaldo is just a plain bad example to use when talking about the expectations of the officiating in the upcoming playoff series.
- MJL

There is a misunderstanding here. I never implied that the last game would be an indicator of how the playoff series would be called.
I never implied that the flyers were specifically targeted to be an example of and yes I do believe if a pens player did the same thing then they would be tossed.
If you don't think that it was predetermined that the game would be called very very tightly then please check your naivete at the door.

My only point has been that the officiating in the NHL is horrible. Not inconsistent but IMO it is horrible.
There are penalties at the beginning of the game that are not penalties at the end of the game.
Some players get the benefit of the doubt, some players reputation precedes them.
One officiating team calls the game different then others.
Whining by coaches influences the refs from game to game to a small degree. One example is Ryan Miller getting hit. It was made into such a big deal a normal borderline line call is a no doubt about it penalty.

Anyone else finding it hard to concentrate at work today?
- Manitobakid

OHHHH, rite...

I am at work...

Mix of injuries and pressure got to the players. Ah well, I'm just happy that this trainwreck of a season is over. I'm excited for your game later, should be a great series
- Rally_Shots

Should be a great series. Seems like everyone is picking the Pens but thats why they play the games.

Should be a great series. Seems like everyone is picking the Pens but thats why they play the games.
- stveshdy

Ya once Briere went out I leaned toward the Pens winning it. I know hes back in the lineup but I doubt hes good to go

Should be a great series. Seems like everyone is picking the Pens but thats why they play the games.
- stveshdy

2010: Experts pick the Devils. Flyers beat the Devils.
Experts pick the Bruins. Flyers beat the Bruins in historical style.
Experts pick the Habs. Flyers steamroll the invincible Halak and Co.
Experts pick the Blackhawks. "We were right!"

No, actually it's not over exaggerated. Is there a conspiracy against the flyers? No of course not.
But, reputations hold far to much sway in officiating. Hartnell can blink at a goalie and get an interference call against him, while Malkin or Crosby would get the benefit of the doubt incidental contact rulings and would be the right call.
Rinaldo gets a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for a marginal 2 minute penalty because of potential issues and because of reputation. Letang does not get thrown out for that hit.
I am only using pens players for discussion not for conspiracy theories.
I am sure this phenomena happens league wide.
Crosby at one point had a reputation for diving and embellishment. He still got the benefit of the doubt. So yes refs do have different rule books for different players.
The game should be officiated fair across the board. Let Shanahan make reputation decisions
- bird_dog

I feel this statement is well said. Should there be a check list of what to expect in this series?

*Crosby dives and slashes but gets uncalled.
*Malkin gets frustrated and gets away with an unnecessary punch to the face of a player or a dangerous hit/shove.
*Letang snaps his head back if a stick goes anywhere near his chest.

I'm not saying the Flyers don't do any of this but the Flyers also don't get very many free passes. I do see Danny Briere in the box more often that I would like.

The Pens are a dangerous and skilled team on every level of the game. They don't need the help of the officals.

2010: Experts pick the Devils. Flyers beat the Devils.
Experts pick the Bruins. Flyers beat the Bruins in historical style.
Experts pick the Habs. Flyers steamroll the invincible Halak and Co.
Experts pick the Blackhawks. "We were right!"


- Flyskippy

experts picked the Habs?!

experts picked the Habs?!
- Crimsoninja

I was thinking the same thing.

experts picked the Habs?!
- Crimsoninja

Quite a few did. Halak had beaten Pittsburgh and Washington, so he was the sexy pick, I guess.

Quite a few did. Halak had beaten Pittsburgh and Washington, so he was the sexy pick, I guess.
- Flyskippy

Eric Engels doesnt count

Quite a few did. Halak had beaten Pittsburgh and Washington, so he was the sexy pick, I guess.
- Flyskippy

Makes sense. With this example said, Pittsburgh has lost to underachieving teams with a full and healthy line up in the past.

So I'm stuck at work watching espn, i know thats my first mistake, and they were showing their "what to watch for" for tonight. I assumed the nhl playoffs would be there. But nope i was wrong. Instead their what to watch tonight was 2 high school basketball players announcing where they're going to go to college.


Are you (frank)ing kidding me?
- fecondo

The NHL isn't on ESPN. Why would they plug it?

Eric Engels doesnt count
- Crimsoninja

Should be a great series. Seems like everyone is picking the Pens but thats why they play the games.
- stveshdy

Wait..What?

They have to play the games still?

There is a misunderstanding here. I never implied that the last game would be an indicator of how the playoff series would be called.
I never implied that the flyers were specifically targeted to be an example of and yes I do believe if a pens player did the same thing then they would be tossed.
If you don't think that it was predetermined that the game would be called very very tightly then please check your naivete at the door.


- bird_dog

There is no misunderstanding as far as I'm concerned. And feel free to review my posts where I clearly said the mindset of the officiating going into the game would be that it would be called tightly. I wrote that in plain English. If need be, I'll provide a link for you to review, my previous posts. I didn't say you implied anything. But then why use that as a example in discussing the expectations of how the playoffs are going to officiated? That's why it's a poor example to use

My only point has been that the officiating in the NHL is horrible. Not inconsistent but IMO it is horrible.
There are penalties at the beginning of the game that are not penalties at the end of the game.
Some players get the benefit of the doubt, some players reputation precedes them.
One officiating team calls the game different then others.
Whining by coaches influences the refs from game to game to a small degree. One example is Ryan Miller getting hit. It was made into such a big deal a normal borderline line call is a no doubt about it penalty.
- bird_dog

And I'll again state my opinion that I would not label the officiating in the NHL as horrible. And I think that is unreasonable to expect each group of officials to call the game the same. There is a human element involved. That doesn't happen in any sport. And Superstar players getting calls, and Coaches working the refs happens in every sport. And always has. You can name all the examples that you like. It's an 82 game Season involving 30 teams. That's how many games?

I feel this statement is well said. Should there be a check list of what to expect in this series?

*Crosby dives and slashes but gets uncalled.
*Malkin gets frustrated and gets away with an unnecessary punch to the face of a player or a dangerous hit/shove.
*Letang snaps his head back if a stick goes anywhere near his chest.

I'm not saying the Flyers don't do any of this but the Flyers also don't get very many free passes. I do see Danny Briere in the box more often that I would like.

The Pens are a dangerous and skilled team on every level of the game. They don't need the help of the officals.
- roenick97

The checklist should also include each teams fans whining about the officiating.

There is no misunderstanding. And feel free to review my posts where I clearly said the mindset of the officiating going into the game would be that it would be called tightly. I wrote that in plain English. If need be, I'll provide a link for you to review. I didn't say you implied anything. But then why use that as a example in discussing the expectations of how the playoffs are going to officiated? That's why it's a poor example to use



And I'll again state my opinion that I would not label the officiating in the NHL as horrible. And I think that is unreasonable to expect each group of officials to call the game the same. There is a human element involved. That doesn't happen in any sport. And Superstar players getting calls, and Coaches working the refs happens in every sport. And always has. You can name all the examples that you like. It's an 82 game Season involving 30 teams. That's how many games?
- MJL

good lord you love to argue about life's inanities. god bless your sig other.

good lord you love to argue about life's inanities. god bless your sig other.
- OrangeBlack27

Feel free to join the conversation. I consider it a debate. And I consider it proper to reply back to those who reply to me in conversation. You aren't forced to read it.

·_·

The NHL isn't on ESPN. Why would they plug it?
- MJL

Well it was Sportscenter... i assumed hockey is a sport.

There is no misunderstanding. And feel free to review my posts where I clearly said the mindset of the officiating going into the game would be that it would be called tightly. I wrote that in plain English. If need be, I'll provide a link for you to review, my previous posts. I didn't say you implied anything. But then why use that as a example in discussing the expectations of how the playoffs are going to officiated? That's why it's a poor example to use



And I'll again state my opinion that I would not label the officiating in the NHL as horrible. And I think that is unreasonable to expect each group of officials to call the game the same. There is a human element involved. That doesn't happen in any sport. And Superstar players getting calls, and Coaches working the refs happens in every sport. And always has. You can name all the examples that you like. It's an 82 game Season involving 30 teams. That's how many games?
- MJL

Its nice to see nothing changes...