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Napa, CA • United States • 26 Years Old • Male
I don't know why, but it seems like in every playoff game this year I've seen at least one goal called off because the referee was not in position to make the call or seen a team called offsides by a line judge trying to catch up or who got in the way of a clearing attempt.

Tonight it was Detroit's Marian Hossa who scored the game-tying-goal with just over a minute left. Jonas Hiller completely lost the puck and it sat uncovered in his crease. Hossa crashed in and poked it past a diving Ducks' defender for the goal. Not so fast, Marian! The whistle that you heard two seconds after you scored wasn't for a penalty. The referee intended to blow it two seconds earlier, before you scored. No goal. Anaheim went on to win the game 2-1 and take a 2-1 lead in the series as well.

Just once I would like to see a referee make that call from right on top of the goal where he is supposed to be. Why are they still hiding in the corner and always on the opposite side of the loose puck?

My simple suggestion for the league is this: referee's cannot blow the play dead unless they are standing directly behind the net. If they get a call wrong about a puck going completely over the line it can always be overturned on video review, but if they blow the play dead, even when it shouldn't be, that can't be reviewed.

Another option would be to allow video replay on these type of plays. If the puck is still visibly loose in the crease when the referee blows the whistle and it is poked into the goal, the goal counts. If there is no conclusive evidence that the puck is loose, then no goal. Referees probably don't like this option because, let's face it, who likes being told you got it wrong? I know I don't being told I'm wrong, but it's more important - especially in the playoffs - to make sure the call is right.

I'm no Red Wings fan, but it is an absolute insult to all 40 players on the ice when they work so hard for one goal only to have it disallowed because the referee was stupid. Colin Campbell, please put one of these rules in for us. I don't care how sensitive your officials are, I don't want them being the ones who decide the outcome of a hockey game even when it's a game in which I can't decide which team I hate more. Imagine if it were a game I actually cared about????
Filed Under:   officials   playoffs   Red Wings   Ducks   Anaheim   Detroit  
May 6, 2009 2:21 AM ET | Delete
I wanted Anaheim to win, but after that call I kind of was upset by the outcome of the game. Terrible call.
May 6, 2009 2:37 AM ET | Delete
It was a bad call..It should of counted...I think Holstrom should watch his elbows.. Ironic that pronger hit holstrom of game 3 in anaheim two years ago. pronger was suspended for game 4.
May 6, 2009 6:56 AM ET | Delete
i guess we're even for the refs missing Holmstroms dirty elbow on Wiz, which led to a wings PP, and subsequent goal
May 6, 2009 8:41 AM ET | Delete
Check the replay, the ref was in the right position for the way the play was forming. A turnover at the side of the net changed the direction of the play and the ref was moving to adjust but blew the whistle and the rest is history. Had he been directly behind the net as you suggest, he would have been interfering with the play and putting a block on Niedermayer.Tough situation for Detroit, it should have counted but the refs aren't perfect and it is what it is.
May 6, 2009 9:31 AM ET | Delete
That would be the problem Shabbs, I never saw the turnover from the camera angles Versus showed. I only saw the top-down view of the crease. That's why I also offered the video replay solution, because isn't the most important thing to get the call right? That's why replay was introduced in the first place, so why not use it to make sure the ref doesn't make a stupid mistake that completely changes the outcome of the game?
May 6, 2009 10:09 AM ET | Delete
i guess we're even for the refs missing Holmstroms dirty elbow on Wiz, which led to a wings PP, and subsequent goal****************************************************************Absolutely agree. The early whistle was unfortunate, but it just makes up for a PP goal that Detroit scored when they never should have been on the PP to begin with.
May 6, 2009 10:19 AM ET | Delete
Two things first the Holmstrom elbow was caused by Nedermeyers trip. Second goalie interference on the second Ducks goal.
May 6, 2009 10:28 AM ET | Delete
I hear ya, and if they could use replay, the right call would be made. I'm not sure why they don't allow for video replay of a play called dead by the ref. Perhaps they don't want to take that judgment call away from the refs as he's the one on the ice, in the thick if it and presumably has the best viewpoint. But, as we've seen, that's not always the case and it's a shame when it has an impact on the outcome of the game.
May 6, 2009 11:00 AM ET | Delete
I think we need a better video replay system... :-P
May 6, 2009 12:19 PM ET | Delete
May 6, 2009 8:30 PM ET | Delete
capt says "Second goalie interference on the second Ducks goal."Sorry man, but the puck was already past Osgood when Scotty fell over. Osgood was reaching back but the puck was already in the net.
May 6, 2009 11:14 PM ET | Delete
Geez, Blues. It's deja vu all over again (thank you Yogi Berra)! Didn't you just repost a blog about something like this?
May 7, 2009 8:31 AM ET | Delete
Refs suck. Or at least in the Devils series they did. It seems like they've been calling pretty weak penalties, and letting the elbows and goalie interference calls slide....I didn't see the Hossa play, but to "intend" to blow the whistle is insane....
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