I really thought the Hawks played a good game, they had some really good chances and the Flames were lucky for the 3rd goal. Game could've gone either way if not for that bounce. I'm surprised the Flames actually won coming back from a long road trip and adjusting back to MST. Cheers and Happy American Thanksgiving!

I tend to call penalties from my couch and I usually have a high accuracy rate, maybe 75%. Last night I saw several infractions by Calgary that were not called by the refs. Cross check, elbow to the head, goalie interference, etc. The no call on boarding ADB the most glaring. Did others see the game this way, or should I get my eyes checked?

Not disappointed at all. Think Hawks put in a legitimate effort. Still not enough guns to go around. That's not the responsibility of the players. See a much more coherent team with King at the helm. At the very least, we can begin to sort out who we want to hang onto for next year.
- gabriel

There’s not much there unfortunately, but the good news is there are a few prospects that are looking good. The key is not to rush them to the NHL, but bring them up when they are ready. Hopefully Dach can learn on the fly, I liked seeing him stand up for ADB last night but that said he’d be better off sticking to hockey. Also no more questionable trades, no more contracts that are so expensive they can’t be moved, no more bringing young players up at 18 or 19 unless they are bonafide stars and let’s start seeing better drafting and better support of the juniors, college, Euro leagues and AHL to better develop young prospects to ensure they are ready when they pull on the Blackhawk jersey.

I tend to call penalties from my couch and I usually have a high accuracy rate, maybe 75%. Last night I saw several infractions by Calgary that were not called by the refs. Cross check, elbow to the head, goalie interference, etc. The no call on boarding ADB the most glaring. Did others see the game this way, or should I get my eyes checked?
- GreenJeans

Write the missed calls down on both sides, I bet if you’re honest they will be more or less even by season’s end. There’s no conspiracy.

Write the missed calls down on both sides, I bet if you’re honest they will be more or less even by season’s end. There’s no conspiracy.
- paulr

There might not be a conspiracy, but the fact remains that NHL refs suck at their job.

There might not be a conspiracy, but the fact remains that NHL refs suck at their job.
- Dieselhead

There is no conspiracy! And yes improvement in officiating is definitely needed.

Not disappointed at all. Think Hawks put in a legitimate effort. Still not enough guns to go around. That's not the responsibility of the players. See a much more coherent team with King at the helm. At the very least, we can begin to sort out who we want to hang onto for next year.
- gabriel

It has been better to see them do more right things poorly then doing blatantly wrong things for 60 mins.

I really thought the Hawks played a good game, they had some really good chances and the Flames were lucky for the 3rd goal. Game could've gone either way if not for that bounce. I'm surprised the Flames actually won coming back from a long road trip and adjusting back to MST. Cheers and Happy American Thanksgiving!
- FlamesFan1230

I dunno about that. The Flames pretty much dominated the game. Flower was very good. I guess the goalie is part of it but the final score was pretty indicative of how the game was going.

There might not be a conspiracy, but the fact remains that NHL refs suck at their job.
- Dieselhead

and you have reffed how many games? at what levels to make that statement. the game moves so damn fast its impossible to see everything. ive been on the ice with WHL players and former NHL guys and they can MOVE

There might not be a conspiracy, but the fact remains that NHL refs suck at their job.
- Dieselhead

The refs do what they’re bosses - the league and the owners - want them to do.

If the league wanted the refs to call tighter games, crack down on certain penalties, stop dis dat or d’udder - they would.

It has been better to see them do more right things poorly then doing blatantly wrong things for 60 mins.
- fattybeef

Correct. Which almost begs the question as to how Colliton ever slipped through the cracks to become a HC. It's all over with him, but so much damage control to sort through. We can only improve gradually over time. Not the worst place to be.

The refs do what they’re bosses - the league and the owners - want them to do.

If the league wanted the refs to call tighter games, crack down on certain penalties, stop dis dat or d’udder - they would.
- StLBravesFan

This is inarguably correct.

Also responded to Mo yesterday, think it was Mo, who said the Hawks having the 3rd best GA since November 7th is cuz of Fluery's insane play over that stretch. Agreed that Fluery has been fantastic but mentioned this doesn't happen in a vacuum. The sieges that occurred on Hawk goalies before King has been drastically reduced as have the regular clown show stretches and that determines a good bit to how a goalie plays......... Indeed, more from Laz:

" So let’s get into that second period. The Blackhawks have hardly morphed into some sort of defensive juggernaut since King took over. According to Sportlogiq, under King, they’ve climbed from 31st to 26th in the league in goals against per game (chalk that up to Marc-André Fleury as much as anything), from 28th to 22nd in expected goals-against per game, from 30th to 27th in slot shots against, from 27th to 24th in rush chances against. They’ve also dropped from 27th to 30th in cycle chances against, and stayed level at 22nd in shot attempts against. (That’s all entering the Calgary game.)"
- Mr Ricochet

Good stuff, Rico. Thanks for the info. Seems there are signs of life, although I wonder how many will appreciate that if/when Flower reverts to. 915.

Happy Thanksgiving to each American poster on here. To our Canadian friends, GFY. Just busting chops; I'm thankful for you all. Now, let's resume the arguments!

Good stuff, Rico. Thanks for the info. Seems there are signs of life, although I wonder how many will appreciate that if/when Flower reverts to. 915.
- mohel

Not a problem, if or when Fleury reverts back we can blame the coach or Murphy or even JC, for old times sake.

Happy Thanksgiving to each American poster on here. To our Canadian friends, GFY. Just busting chops; I'm thankful for you all. Now, let's resume the arguments!
- mohel

Happy Thanksgiving Mo and to everyone else, even you Dots!

Not a problem, if or when Fleury reverts back we can blame the coach or Murphy or even JC, for old times sake.
- paulr

I say we blame Elbows.

Happy Thanksgiving to each American poster on here. To our Canadian friends, GFY. Just busting chops; I'm thankful for you all. Now, let's resume the arguments!
- mohel

Happy Thanksgiving Mo. Replying to the posters complaining about refs, like it was mentioned here, it’s a fast game, can they be more consistent? Probably, but all in all they do fairly well and calls do even out.

ARE YOU CRAZY ! FLEURY BEEN GIVING UP GOALS LIKE THIS MOST OF HIS CAREER AND USUALLY AT WRONG , TIME ASK VEGAS ABOUT THE GIFT HE GAVE MONTREAL , OR EVEN GO BACK AND CHECK OUT THE BOO BOO HE GAVE UP TO THE AMERICAN IN THE WORLD Juniors

Man the caps lock thing was so 1999 ...

Happy Thanksgiving, mutants

Happy Thanksgiving Mo. Replying to the posters complaining about refs, like it was mentioned here, it’s a fast game, can they be more consistent? Probably, but all in all they do fairly well and calls do even out.
- Angotti

True but that hit on Dinky was textbook.."we want to protect the players" stuff.

Not a problem, if or when Fleury reverts back we can blame the coach or Murphy or even JC, for old times sake.
- paulr

They are still trying to play the same asinine system.

and you have reffed how many games? at what levels to make that statement. the game moves so damn fast its impossible to see everything. ive been on the ice with WHL players and former NHL guys and they can MOVE
- SaskHawkFan

That's a fact

and you have reffed how many games? at what levels to make that statement. the game moves so damn fast its impossible to see everything. ive been on the ice with WHL players and former NHL guys and they can MOVE
- SaskHawkFan

I hate this argument, "It's a fast game and it is hard to see everything". Brain surgery is hard, and if a doctor missed something in a surgery he would not practice anymore. You become an official, you be the best official you can be. They should never use that excuse.
The league should make the refs available after games so they can explain what they saw during the games. At least they could become human beings that make mistakes and admit fault when they mess up.