Dan Spiegel: Panthers Unable To Overcome Poor Start And Officiating

Dan Spiegel: Panthers Unable To Overcome Poor Start And Officiating
- spiegs13

The officiating wasn't that bad. What call could you say should've been called back. On the double minor, it was either an elbow or a high stick, they might've thought the butt end of the stick hit Greene in the face. Nevertheless, it was going to be penalized, and I am assuming they saw blood, so either way it would've been a four minute elbowing or high-sticking.

It was a good game, indicative of what both teams can bring. The Fleischmann cross-check, that's going to be called. The Versteeg hook with four minutes to go, that was blatant and clear as day, that has to be called. The only infractions the Devils had that could've been called were probably trips/interferences along the boards, and rarely do they call those unless they are blatantly obvious.

The officiating wasn't that bad. What call could you say should've been called back. On the double minor, it was either an elbow or a high stick, they might've thought the butt end of the stick hit Greene in the face. Nevertheless, it was going to be penalized, and I am assuming they saw blood, so either way it would've been a four minute elbowing or high-sticking.

It was a good game, indicative of what both teams can bring. The Fleischmann cross-check, that's going to be called. The Versteeg hook with four minutes to go, that was blatant and clear as day, that has to be called. The only infractions the Devils had that could've been called were probably trips/interferences along the boards, and rarely do they call those unless they are blatantly obvious.
- _Zippy_

I know I'm going to get killed here in the comments because it sounds like sour grapes, but it isn't. The entire team and coaching staff knew the double minor wasn't a penalty, so that stung and takes some steam out of certain players for the rest of the game to kill off four minutes that early.

Madden got high-sticked in the second with no call and there was at least one other interference and holding call that was missed on the Devils. It is what it is. If it was the other way around Devils fans would be screaming bloody murder. On to game 2 and hopefully more consistent and reasonable playoff officiating.

I know I'm going to get killed here in the comments because it sounds like sour grapes, but it isn't. The entire team and coaching staff knew the double minor wasn't a penalty, so that stung and takes some steam out of certain players for the rest of the game to kill off four minutes that early.

Madden got high-sticked in the second with no call and there was at least one other interference and holding call that was missed on the Devils. It is what it is. If it was the other way around Devils fans would be screaming bloody murder. On to game 2 and hopefully more consistent and reasonable playoff officiating.
- spiegs13

You're going to get killed, we all deal with it, God knows my team does. Every Panther fan on here was on our blog a few weeks ago bcs you guys lost because of the refs then... Coincidence? I watched the game, you lost. The better team won, sucks but it does sound like sour grapes. Look foward to the next game! At least you are'nt an Islanders fan!

I know I'm going to get killed here in the comments because it sounds like sour grapes, but it isn't. The entire team and coaching staff knew the double minor wasn't a penalty, so that stung and takes some steam out of certain players for the rest of the game to kill off four minutes that early.

Madden got high-sticked in the second with no call and there was at least one other interference and holding call that was missed on the Devils. It is what it is. If it was the other way around Devils fans would be screaming bloody murder. On to game 2 and hopefully more consistent and reasonable playoff officiating.
- spiegs13

Totally agree.

I know I'm going to get killed here in the comments because it sounds like sour grapes, but it isn't. The entire team and coaching staff knew the double minor wasn't a penalty, so that stung and takes some steam out of certain players for the rest of the game to kill off four minutes that early.

Madden got high-sticked in the second with no call and there was at least one other interference and holding call that was missed on the Devils. It is what it is. If it was the other way around Devils fans would be screaming bloody murder. On to game 2 and hopefully more consistent and reasonable playoff officiating.
- spiegs13

I don't buy this "it hurts the team thing." Sometimes you get calls, sometimes you don't, these guys are professionals they've seen missed calls and bad calls on every level, they should know to suck it up and continue playing regardless of a call.

Dan Spiegel: Panthers Unable To Overcome Poor Start And Officiating
- spiegs13

That was vintage Canadiens Theodore out there tonight.

Totally agree.
- Crazycaboose

of course you do

That was vintage Canadiens Theodore out there tonight.
- GSDIV

that was just Theodore, plain and simple

of course you do
- Cptmjl

Did you even watch the game?

Dan Spiegel: Panthers Unable To Overcome Poor Start And Officiating
- spiegs13

the reason the panther lost is because they poop the bed in the 1st period.

In all honesty, the panthers were on the wrong end of many calls, and the 4 minute penalty which resulted in the Zubrus goal was complete garbage....having said that, they cannot expect to win playoff games surrenduring 26 shots in the opening period! Fix that problem and then turn to the officiating

I didn't think that the officiating was that bad, although the double minor to Matthias was absolutely awful. As has been pointed out, the shot count that the Panthers surrendered in the first is wholly unacceptable.

Dan Spiegel: Panthers Unable To Overcome Poor Start And Officiating
- spiegs13

sure they messed up on the 4min call, but its not like they got scrubs reffing these games, they have to make split second calls and from their angle it probably looked like a high stick, it would have been called the same way if it was devils on panthers

but the matter of fact is the panthers didnt show up in the 1st period, and that is what cost the game, not officiating as it was pretty bad both ways, and other then the 2nd devils pretty much controlled the game, sure in the 3rd the devils didnt have offense going but they limited the panthers chances


sundays game will be more exciting and will show what the teams have as they would have their legs under them, coming of 5 days of no games is tough for any team

the refs didnt decide the game at all, the panthers dug themselves a hole

The refs were terrible and that call was inexcusable at a playoff game. They also called some other lame penalties. I mean....just unacceptable. These refs need to be told that they suck because the NHL doesn't seem to do it.

Still, that's not what made the Panthers lose. That first period was atrocious. Yet, the last 40 minutes were very good for the Panthers and it got the Devils playing in their typical all out defensive style game. That means that this team is beatable for the Panthers.

DO IIIIITTT!!!!

You'll get an apology from Colin Campbell... oh wait, you are not the Penguins.

The officiating was crap for both sides. So much stuff should have been let go. I like playoff hockey because its more rough and loosely officiated. Hated how many powerplays there were in this game.

You'll get an apology from Colin Campbell... oh wait, you are not the Penguins.
- flyerfan48

The officiating was crap for both sides. So much stuff should have been let go. I like playoff hockey because its more rough and loosely officiated. Hated how many powerplays there were in this game.
- BDizzlez

did you see the nucks-kings game 1

kings had like 8 powerplays including a 5min major

Really? The Refs? The 4 minute powerplay was garbage, I agree. But you got 2 complete garbage calls go your way in the 2nd period, 1 of which led to a goal.

The Stephen Gionta "tripping" penalty was just silly. He gets a stick between his legs and his spun down to the ice by a panther. He spins his stick around as he's turning to get up, makes light contact with a Panther's skates, and gets a tripping penalty.

And then the.. Volchenkov? I think it was.. "interference" at the blue line? It was as much Anton interfering as it was the Panthers' player interfering/tripping.

But I'm sure that you thought both of these were good calls.

The officiating wasn't that bad. What call could you say should've been called back. On the double minor, it was either an elbow or a high stick, they might've thought the butt end of the stick hit Greene in the face. Nevertheless, it was going to be penalized, and I am assuming they saw blood, so either way it would've been a four minute elbowing or high-sticking.

It was a good game, indicative of what both teams can bring. The Fleischmann cross-check, that's going to be called. The Versteeg hook with four minutes to go, that was blatant and clear as day, that has to be called. The only infractions the Devils had that could've been called were probably trips/interferences along the boards, and rarely do they call those unless they are blatantly obvious.
- _Zippy_

Nice justification

Four minute elbowing penalty? Since when.

Got to give credit to the Panther organization they did a fine job on the cardboard cut outs to make the arena look full. Its a shame that the feed was the Florida panther feed with the Idiot Bill Lindsay and his partner because it made me watch about 4 minutes total of the game.

Got to give credit to the Panther organization they did a fine job on the cardboard cut outs to make the arena look full. Its a shame that the feed was the Florida panther feed with the Idiot Bill Lindsay and his partner because it made me watch about 4 minutes total of the game.
- Leafsfan9329

That would be four minutes more than last nights Leaf game.

I don't buy this "it hurts the team thing." Sometimes you get calls, sometimes you don't, these guys are professionals they've seen missed calls and bad calls on every level, they should know to suck it up and continue playing regardless of a call.
- _Zippy_

The simple fact is that we got beaten because we had no game, no flow, no zest in the 1st period and surrendered 26 shots against. However, the 4-minute call on Matthias is and was a big factor and not because we got scored on in the last 8 seconds of that PK (even though there is your one goal difference).

The reason it stung so badly is that it prevents the team from establishing flow and particularly-- offense. It kept our penalty killers out there for 4-minutes, it prevents any offense for 4 of the first 20 minutes. Combine that with the other 1st period 2 minute penalty and that is 6 of your first 20 where it is particularly difficult to right the ship.

If you want to see why that call was so stinking important, thats the reason, we came out flat and it was hard to correct it when you are killing penalties that long. Terrible call that cost us and stalled out any regrouping for an attack in the 1st.

Got to give credit to the Panther organization they did a fine job on the cardboard cut outs to make the arena look full. Its a shame that the feed was the Florida panther feed with the Idiot Bill Lindsay and his partner because it made me watch about 4 minutes total of the game.
- Leafsfan9329

You were there? You got stuck in the traffic getting into the building through metal detectors? Yes, lots of folks were late, but I was there and while not a sellout (its a big building by the way) it was crowded and loud. Far more crowded than all those empty lower bowl seats in Toronto every game.