Or Domi? haha

But im not saying leafs fans are hypocritical perse, i think fans in general and sports news producers. (one who generate the story lines and the angles they take)

Its a fine balance; there have been 3 games that habs players have been rocked to the head with poopty borderline hits. How have you perceived those hits? How have they been presented? If we took them serious like they do in Europe, maybe those checks that Matthews took, get a penalty or harsher condemnation.
- munky123

Domi wasn't really a dirty player.

Other than the hit on Niedermayer, of course.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this jersey was a "throw-back" - and it came out after Stieb had retired.
- Atomic Wedgie

It's exactly that. It still exists though, if you'd still like it.

There are certainly degrees. Problem is refs have different criteria on these degrees of cross checks. What I might think should be a penalty is likely not what you think should be a penalty.

I remember when I used to know how a game would be called based on who the ref was. Paul Stewart would pretty much let everything go unless it was an obvious penalty. Rob Schick would call everything in the book no matter how ticky tack it was. Kerry Fraser would always screw a team somehow some way. Not just the Leafs in 93 vs LA. He'd usually wait until OT and award a team a phantom PP.

I always knew the Red Wings would be killing penalties all night if Dunkin Dan O'Hallorhan was reffing. Why? Because he was once shot in Detroit and openly admitted to having a grudge.
- gergeswillems

NHL needs to have greater consistency in the refing. No question.

In Edmonton you're not allowed to rub sticks together.
- TheMussel

This could be interpreted many different ways.

This could be interpreted many different ways.
- gergeswillems

And they'd all be true

Domi wasn't really a dirty player.

Other than the hit on Niedermayer, of course.
- Atomic Wedgie

He was talking about baby Domi.

This could be interpreted many different ways.
- gergeswillems

Isn’t that why Jero went to Thailand?

And they'd all be true
- TheMussel

Isn’t that why Jero went to Thailand?
- Steven_Seagull

Domi wasn't really a dirty player.

Other than the hit on Niedermayer, of course.
- Atomic Wedgie

love to hate i meant. Had his moments for sure.

So far i think WE ALL can agree that there needs to be some more consistency and really more accountability from the refs...

Whats sad, is reffing is like policing in society. If you do the analogy or look at the parallels its infuriating because its going to take so much to change and people are divided on both fronts.

NHL needs to have greater consistency in the refing. No question.
- bixll

This year is the worst I have ever seen it. I have no idea what's a call and what isn't anymore.

I never liked the idea of putting away the whistle, but at least I could recognize when a referee was "allowing the boys to play" in the 3rd period.

This year, phantom love-taps are being called in the 3rd, that weren't in the 1st. Hits to the head are ignored. If a guy falls, it's automatically a tripping penalty - until it isn't anymore.

Just imagine what the players are thinking in the 3rd period - don't get near a guy, because you don't want to be heading off because the ref called you for skating within 6 feet of another guy - 2 minutes for COVID-protocol violation.

- gergeswillems

This year is the worst I have ever seen it. I have no idea what's a call and what isn't anymore.

I never liked the idea of putting away the whistle, but at least I could recognize when a referee was "allowing the boys to play" in the 3rd period.

This year, phantom love-taps are being called in the 3rd, that weren't in the 1st. Hits to the head are ignored. If a guy falls, it's automatically a tripping penalty - until it isn't anymore.

Just imagine what the players are thinking in the 3rd period - don't get near a guy, because you don't want to be heading off because the ref called you for skating within 6 feet of another guy - 2 minutes for COVID-protocol violation.
- Atomic Wedgie

I feel like I say that every single year. And not just in hockey. All sports have straight up gotten worse and worse and it's at the stage where it's just pathetic.

There inlies the problem. The game, sure cheer; obvious inconsistencies, it hurts us all.

Being hypocritical isn't something to be proud of either.
- munky123

Wait, being a hypocrite would've taken you showing an image of a Leaf defender crosschecking Gallagher and a Leaf poster saying "meh, it's hockey".

Chara crosschecking people? You won't find any Chara defenders here.

So wait for tonights game ..grab some highlights of Muzzin crosschecking Gallagher then ask for opinions. We'll then consider your concerns.

love to hate i meant. Had his moments for sure.

So far i think WE ALL can agree that there needs to be some more consistency and really more accountability from the refs...

Whats sad, is reffing is like policing in society. If you do the analogy or look at the parallels its infuriating because its going to take so much to change and people are divided on both fronts.
- munky123

Other than this year (where the reffing has just been bad), I don't normally blame the refs. They are calling the games the way the league wants them to be called.

Remember the obstruction crackdown? Players were going off in droves, they were complaining, "old school fans" were complaining, people were saying the game was ruined. But slowly and surely, everyone got used to it, and the game vastly improved.

We just need a league-wide commitment to getting rid of the garbage again, and sticking to it in the face of opposition.

I love the NHL's tradition, but sometimes it can be its own worst enemy. They said for years they couldn't take headshots out of the game - even though the OHL had proven it could be done. They still say they can't take fights out of the game. They allow the cross-checks in front of the net. They allow two-handers on the PK.

Just call the rules as they are printed in the rulebook.

yea so is hate, you can make big boy decisions in life and not be, or at least do what you can to curb it.

Hypocrisy is one of humanities big problems. Also, want kind of person are you if you are full of hypocrisy. Lame.
- munky123

You need to relax...take 10 minutes and go spank your namesake, you'll feel better.

My franking dog gets dinner at 7 pm every night.

Like a franking Swiss watch, she's all franking over me starting at 6 pm.

Franking Labradors.

This year is the worst I have ever seen it. I have no idea what's a call and what isn't anymore.

I never liked the idea of putting away the whistle, but at least I could recognize when a referee was "allowing the boys to play" in the 3rd period.

This year, phantom love-taps are being called in the 3rd, that weren't in the 1st. Hits to the head are ignored. If a guy falls, it's automatically a tripping penalty - until it isn't anymore.

Just imagine what the players are thinking in the 3rd period - don't get near a guy, because you don't want to be heading off because the ref called you for skating within 6 feet of another guy - 2 minutes for COVID-protocol violation.
- Atomic Wedgie

We also have players diving like soccer players because it works. It's all about getting the power plays. It's a skill now. Some are very good at it. Like Carey Price. He's an elite diver. You breathe on him and he's down faster than Roeper after an Isles win. Some are bad at it and get called for diving.

Kariya, Selanne and Forsberg used to be elite divers. Crosby is still elite. Larkin is a big diver but he's horrible at it.

You need to relax...take 10 minutes and go spank your namesake, you'll feel better.
- graemet13

Did you mean to reply to me instead of Munky?

I'm just going to assume this was for me, and go take your advice.

There's a happy medium in being a rat.

For some reason this reminds me of the Muzzin puck flip at Tkachuk and now I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
- TheMussel

Best moment in hockey this season

My franking dog gets dinner at 7 pm every night.

Like a franking Swiss watch, she's all franking over me starting at 6 pm.

Franking Labradors.
- Atomic Wedgie

My buddy's cat starts meowing like a machine an hour before his eating time, too. But that cat is an bumhole.

This year is the worst I have ever seen it. I have no idea what's a call and what isn't anymore.

I never liked the idea of putting away the whistle, but at least I could recognize when a referee was "allowing the boys to play" in the 3rd period.

This year, phantom love-taps are being called in the 3rd, that weren't in the 1st. Hits to the head are ignored. If a guy falls, it's automatically a tripping penalty - until it isn't anymore.

Just imagine what the players are thinking in the 3rd period - don't get near a guy, because you don't want to be heading off because the ref called you for skating within 6 feet of another guy - 2 minutes for COVID-protocol violation.
- Atomic Wedgie

Exactly my point..

Did you mean to reply to me instead of Munky?

I'm just going to assume this was for me, and go take your advice.
- Atomic Wedgie

Nope, it was for munky, but my relaxation tips are for all to enjoy!

We also have players diving like soccer players because it works. It's all about getting the power plays. It's a skill now. Some are very good at it. Like Carey Price. He's an elite diver. You breathe on him and he's down faster than Roeper after an Isles win. Some are bad at it and get called for diving.

Kariya, Selanne and Forsberg used to be elite divers. Crosby is still elite. Larkin is a big diver but he's horrible at it.
- gergeswillems

It would make me very happy if they called diving a (frank) of a lot more.

oh baby!
- Aetherial

Absolutely. I don't understand why the rest of the world hasn't just packed it in and changed all their recipes to Indian.