@TonyDean1204

WildHBcommunity: Rocky Mountain Railroading of the MNWild

Apr 27, 2014 • 4:36 pm

WildHBcommunity: Rocky Mountain Railroading of the MNWild

I can appreciate that my colleague Brad Ratgen wants to move on and focus on what lies ahead in this Best of 7 series between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche unfortunately I can not. What took place last night at the Pepsi Center was a travesty. The NHL should be embarrassed and ashamed by Brad Meier and Kelly Sutherlind.

Here is Brad Meier

Here is Kelly Sutherlind

Beyond the normal latitude and "It's The Playoffs" mentality of officiating a game, last night was a farce with many examples of a complete failure to act by the NHL officiating crew that directly impacted the final outcome of the game and most likely this series.

What makes it that much more infuriating is that is was predictable this would occur given the reputation and prior history between NHL referee Meier and the Wild. This game was far too important to both teams for it to be directly decided by incompetence and inaction of an officiating crew but that is ultimately what occurred.

#MNWild A quick Google search of "Brad Meier" will tell the tale of a long contentious relationship with @MNWild dating back to #Lemaire
— Tony Dean (MNWild) (@TonyDeanTHW) April 26, 2014

The Avalanche have been afford carte blanche to take runs on the Wild this series specifically after the whistle with no response from the NHL officials. The Avalanche and their fans have championed such conduct and behavior from their team only to turn around be outraged when their team ends up on the receiving end.

Trouble in Denver. Charlie Coyle held by Andre Benoit with net empty causing turnover. Up ice, Paul Stasny is offside as Avs tie game. Ouch!
— Kerry Fraser (@kfraserthecall) April 27, 2014

I am not simply calling into question liberties and junk after the whistle at this point, we are talking about game altering non-calls that are completely altering the outcome. This series doesn't fit the bad calls happen players need to overcome blanket statement it better resembles a scenario require NHL intervention because the credibility and integrity of their product is at stake.

I have zero doubt that Wild Owner Craig Leipold and General Manager Chuck Fletcher have contacted the league after last night. The early word was the SAME officiating crew was scheduled to work game 6 in Minnesota so stay tuned as the mockery could be provided more fuel. Enough is enough in my opinion, Gary Bettman should have to answer for the failure of his officials last night and in this series and playoffs on a whole.

Here is Paul Statsny CLEARLY offsides on Game Tying Goal