Good question, it's from an incredibly poor standard of reffing and arguably even worse execution (this season anyways) in my opinion. It hasn't just been the leafs and this Winnipeg game. I've seen an abundance of poop reffing in lots of the other games I've watched.

We're talking about the only league on earth that (frank)s off the rulebook and plays off of unwritten rules as soon as their playoff games start.

The league needs to put an emphasis on defining its rulebook and ensuring its officials are operating to that standard, doesn't matter what it takes.

I don't care if it takes another ref in the pressbox to call ice level and be like nah Pionk just took a player out knee on knee, that's 5 and a game. Because if players know they can't get away with poop they won't pull it... And DOPS isn't the deterrent it should be.

Just my opinion of course. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- joel878

To be fair to the bolded, the NBA refs legit say they won't call things for a rookie because "they have to pay their dues".

To be fair to the bolded, the NBA refs legit say they won't call things for a rookie because "they have to pay their dues".
- Aaron_85

And Soccer refs are an enigma to me.

And Soccer refs are an enigma to me.
- Scabeh

I'm in the camp that finds all of soccer an enigma.

I mean . . . I have paint in the garage that I could watch dry. Of course I keep it unopened in the can. Now it's like Schrodinger's Paint.

Matthews didn't engage a player that would be a third line centre on the Leafs that whose focus was to get Matthews off the ice. Dubois succeeded only because the ref who was standing right there was incompetent, corrupt or both.
- winsix

Wait, the ref was paid off for not calling a penalty on that play?

Wait, the ref was paid off for not calling a penalty on that play?
- Canada Cup

He was receiving clear instructions from Bettman in his earpiece to let the play continue.

And Soccer refs are an enigma to me.
- Scabeh

As horrible as NBA and Soccer refs are, there is no way with all the corruption and incompetence in those two sports that Rinaldo or LeBron ever have a player do what Dubois did to Matthews and there is no flagrant or red card. Not a chance IMO.

TSN has the leafs in first place in the division, first in the conference and third in the league behind Washington and FLorida....which are both behind them in the conference....

As horrible as NBA and Soccer refs are, there is no way with all the corruption and incompetence in those two sports that Rinaldo or LeBron ever have a player do what Dubois did to Matthews and there is no flagrant or red card. Not a chance IMO.
- winsix

Agreed.
If anything, the stars can get away with so much in those leagues

Wait, the ref was paid off for not calling a penalty on that play?
- Canada Cup

In terms of corruption, motivation or intent cannot be known by fans easily. To assume there is no corruption at any level, whatever form is naive. It can be as simple as a bias or as flagrant as the NBA ref that went to jail for fixing games.

Agreed.
If anything, the stars can get away with so much in those leagues
- Fakepartofme

Not really. Soccer refs know those south of the equator tend to be falling.

He was receiving clear instructions from Bettman in his earpiece to let the play continue.
- Scabeh

Although your post is ridiculous, I will respond by saying my post clearly said "incompetent or corrupt or both". Read it before you make a silly remark.

TSN has the leafs in first place in the division, first in the conference and third in the league behind Washington and FLorida....which are both behind them in the conference....
- Aaron_85

They cant be seen as playing favs to the leafs.

The rest of Canada freaks out anytime the Leafs get air time.

They cant be seen as playing favs to the leafs.

The rest of Canada freaks out anytime the Leafs get air time.
- Fakepartofme

In terms of corruption, motivation or intent cannot be known by fans easily. To assume there is no corruption at any level, whatever form is naive. It can be as simple as a bias or as flagrant as the NBA ref that went to jail for fixing games.
- winsix

Tim Donaghy is an interesting case in point. He was a ref for 17 seasons - over 700 games. Sometimes merely controlling the point spread, and other times outwardly dictating the winner.

Think of the intricacies of any fluid sports game, and so much can be influenced by so little. I mean in hockey, you have icing/non-icing, waiving people out of face/off circles . . . which aren't even in the realm of controlling the play and momentum.

Introductions like instant replay do add some credibility, despite their occasional flaws. I don't think people are necessarily talking some massive wide-spread conspiracy or some league-mandated hush-hush conspiracy (although it might make drunk-me feel better), but game management methods have hurt proper momentum and proper flow to a game.

no knee extension by Pionk, clean hit, unfortunate result. Pionk leaned in with his shoulder, both legs behind his center, got some body. Sandin's own extension got tangled with Pionk and caused injury. Pionk lost at George's magic 8 ball of DOPS

https://twitter.com/Snars...tatus/1467731936919662592
- 2.0

obviously the aftereffects of glue sniffing as a child

That Zegras to Milano goal was pretty sweet
- TheMussel

Great hand to eye by Milano

obviously the aftereffects of glue sniffing as a child

- BorjeFan4Ever

Remember what #2 is.

He was receiving clear instructions from Bettman in his earpiece to let the play continue.
- Scabeh

this simply can't be the case... with Bettman's Parkinsons the ref would be constantly tapping the earpiece assuming it wasn't working...

plus Bettman can't watch all the games... cuts into his side meetings with the owners of the Bruins.

Although your post is ridiculous, I will respond by saying my post clearly said "incompetent or corrupt or both". Read it before you make a silly remark.
- winsix

Of all that's been said, my post doesn't sound that silly if you ask me.

Tim Donaghy is an interesting case in point. He was a ref for 17 seasons - over 700 games. Sometimes merely controlling the point spread, and other times outwardly dictating the winner.

Think of the intricacies of any fluid sports game, and so much can be influenced by so little. I mean in hockey, you have icing/non-icing, waiving people out of face/off circles . . . which aren't even in the realm of controlling the play and momentum.

Introductions like instant replay do add some credibility, despite their occasional flaws. I don't think people are necessarily talking some massive wide-spread conspiracy or some league-mandated hush-hush conspiracy (although it might make drunk-me feel better), but game management methods have hurt proper momentum and proper flow to a game.
- Monkeypunk

To imply that NHL refs and officials have abolutely no bias and are 100% neutral in all situations would be naive IMO. Even the notion of "evening up calls" is a bias and a form of corruption IMO.

To imply that NHL refs and officials have abolutely no bias and are 100% neutral in all situations would be naive IMO. Even the notion of "evening up calls" is a bias and a form of corruption IMO.
- winsix

Sorry, that’s not corruption

And Soccer refs are an enigma to me.
- Scabeh

not really too difficult to understand - if you have played the game at any type of competitive level above about age 16-17... there are two parts, manage on-field emotions (which means you need to know who hates who on each team you are caling the game), manage the fans when playing in a geography where "things can get out of hand" and absolutely make the first calls in the game emphatically.... any signs of indecision or weakness and you will lose control right away.

Football/soccer can get really really chippy in subtle ways that most fans never know about.

if you want to watch a refereeing clinic in a game which could have gone really "sideways"... watch the World Cup game between Germany and Brazil which was played in Brazil in 2014 (Germany won a very lopsided embarassing match for Brazil at home).. That was a tough match to call no doubt. I believe the head referee was Mexican or Columbian. He didn't get sucked in by any diving or antics - and he managed the emotions of the embarassed Brazilians masterfully.

Of all that's been said, my post doesn't sound that silly if you ask me.
- Scabeh

In a kingdom in a faraway land, the king was poisoned by an evil witch and made crazy. All the people despaired about the king’s sudden illness. A good witch arrived but could find not antidote to return the king to his senses. Instead she gave all the people of the kingdom the same poison that made the king insane. And all the people rejoiced at the king’s newfound sanity.

To imply that NHL refs and officials have abolutely no bias and are 100% neutral in all situations would be naive IMO. Even the notion of "evening up calls" is a bias and a form of corruption IMO.
- winsix

Well, it's why they deny it. I remember Kerry Fraser saying he had never called a even-up call. Some other former ref had said that they did it all the time.

I mean even ignoring what the refs say or have said: We're human beings. We're social animals. You get on the ice. You make a relationship with the ref. You make them laugh. Disarm them. You're a good guy. It makes them question what they saw when you do something. This isn't "David Clarkson: An introduction to water bottles the summer course." This is "Brad Marchand: Advanced Class 401".

Once you have a rapport with a ref it does change things. It's natural. They have a job to do, but they don't need to do it to a T if they know you.

I mean even in my work . . .if Person X in Marketing doesn't give me what I need in time, I'll escalate because screw Marketing. But if Person Y in IT, who I work with, and occasionally drink with, and play softball with, is late on a deliverable - I'll pick up the phone. I'll visit their desk. I won't escalate on them until I have literally no other recourse.

That's the human factor.

Sorry, that’s not corruption
- Canada Cup

Depends on which definition you use, I said a form of, this one works.

Corruption is dishonest behavior by those in positions of power