Paul Stewart: Linesmen Calling/ Reporting Penalties

Great insight as usual, Stewy!

I'm wondering if you happen to have seen the Toronto/Philly game on 10/28. If so, I'd love your take on why no penalty was called when Gostisbehere was driven from behind head first into the boards.

Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=211yznVahtk

The hit happened right in front of a linesman. If what you say is true (and I'm sure it is), then it follows that there should be no reason for the linesman to defer to the official, no? Given the inconsistent mess that is the Dept. of Player Safety, I'm not surprised that no hearing - much less a suspension - was ordered. However, the hit not being severe enough for even a minor penalty was quite surprising. I thought this hit is exactly what the league is trying to get rid of.

Great insight as usual, Stewy!

I'm wondering if you happen to have seen the Toronto/Philly game on 10/28. If so, I'd love your take on why no penalty was called when Gostisbehere was driven from behind head first into the boards.

Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=211yznVahtk

The hit happened right in front of a linesman. If what you say is true (and I'm sure it is), then it follows that there should be no reason for the linesman to defer to the official, no? Given the inconsistent mess that is the Dept. of Player Safety, I'm not surprised that no hearing - much less a suspension - was ordered. However, the hit not being severe enough for even a minor penalty was quite surprising. I thought this hit is exactly what the league is trying to get rid of.
- BOSS_TWEED

Bad hit.... worthy of a major and supplementary discipline.

Did the linesman see the high stick on the replay and use that as the basis of the call? If I misunderstood your post, I am sorry, but does this happen more than the fan realizes? And if they realize a call is missed and seconds later see they missed it, more likely for a makeup call?


Also, I see yesterday in in the MIN/WIN game, Foligno was called for embellishment -- http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...ds-foligno-embellishment/ Maybe I missed something, but Foligno's back is to Laine when he is slashed and doesn't see it coming. I think it was pure reaction, not embellishment. Was there something else there that led to what looks like a bad call?

Did the linesman see the high stick on the replay and use that as the basis of the call? If I misunderstood your post, I am sorry, but does this happen more than the fan realizes? And if they realize a call is missed and seconds later see they missed it, more likely for a makeup call?


Also, I see yesterday in in the MIN/WIN game, Foligno was called for embellishment -- http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...ds-foligno-embellishment/ Maybe I missed something, but Foligno's back is to Laine when he is slashed and doesn't see it coming. I think it was pure reaction, not embellishment. Was there something else there that led to what looks like a bad call?
- SabresFanRoch

Was reported after the initial call during the TV time out and then ruled as a 4-min penalty.

Embellishment vs genuine fall to the ice from the slash was a judgment call.... he did a bit of a swan dive when he felt the two-hander but was skating away as you note. Not a big fan of offsetting calls on plays such as those.

The linesman call is basically an after the whistle call usually, correct. The linesman couldn't stop play and call a penalty say on a trip or a hook on their own could they? Also, how can you miss a call like the boarding on Ghost? Im just amazed when plays like that are missed right in the vicinity of the puck. It wasnt as though it was away from the play. It is the exact definition of a major boarding, yet completely missed by everyone on the ice.

I am having trouble with the missed calls this year.
I was a ref for almost 20 years so I can look at the games through the officials eyes.
You commented on the hit on Ghost. On one replay, both the ref and linesman were looking right at the hit.
I don't whine as a Flyers fan but I have to say that the team seems to get hosed in some manner at a critical point in the game. To many situations for one team.

I think the problem with linesman calling penalties is the perceived lack of consistency. The officials huddled up and got the call right in the game you referenced. But it feels like that only happened BECAUSE of the TV timeout. On most plays, the official makes a call, then play resumes. They never huddle up. I'm guessing because the ref thinks he has the right call, and without a TV timeout, the linesman worries calling a huddle and getting the call changed would be undermining the refs authority or something. Regardless, if the linesman are going to help the refs out, they should be given a chance to have input far more often. Because it seems (to me anyways) like they aren't willing to interrupt the flow of the game on their own in order to fill in the refs on what they missed.