Take Refs Out of Game with 5 Minutes to Go??????

[pssteve]

The NHL referees have been having a bad go of it recently. We all know about the Stephan Auger incident in Vancouver. Then there was another in Edmonton (different ref).
Then last night in the Leaf game they got called for too many men late in the game (very iffy call on replay) and the Bolts tied the game and won in OT.
In the Bruins vs CBJ game Lucic was given a 4 minute highsticking call with 2 mins to go. Replay showed the stick doing the damage was a CBJ teammate. CBJ scored and won game on the power play.
These guys are just screwing up too many times. I know these screw-ups probably even out over the course of the whole season but how about they (referees) just skate off the ice at the 15 minute mark of the 3rd period and leave the linesmen to call offsides. LET THE TEAMS DECIDE THE GAMES.THIS IS TURNING INTO BASKETBALL No offense to BB fans.

 

[The Great Zo]

Ron Wilson said the Leaf penalty in OT was an undisciplined play on the part of his team.

 

[Metrags]

Taking them out entirely is a bit extreme, but they should at least have the mindset that they have during playoff time.

Take the "let em play" attitude from the playoff games, and apply it to the third period. Or at least the second half of it.

 

[pssteve]

I would love it if they took the "let them play" attitude but 90% of these guys show absolutely no judgment. They have become as bad as the umpires at 2nd base making phantom calls. Its like these guys have never played the game. At the very least they should go back to 1 referee. Having 2 on the ice has not improved anything except create more jobs for incompetents.

 

[wingnut888]

I would love it if they took the "let them play" attitude but 90% of these guys show absolutely no judgment. They have become as bad as the umpires at 2nd base making phantom calls. Its like these guys have never played the game. At the very least they should go back to 1 referee. Having 2 on the ice has not improved anything except create more jobs for incompetents.

Nothing better than watching the ref at center ice make a call on a guy behind the net while the other ref is standing right in front of the play. Just leaves a warm spot right in my belly!

 

[cards-gotta-go]

I would love it if they took the "let them play" attitude but 90% of these guys show absolutely no judgment. They have become as bad as the umpires at 2nd base making phantom calls. Its like these guys have never played the game. At the very least they should go back to 1 referee. Having 2 on the ice has not improved anything except create more jobs for incompetents.

So says the armchair quarterback who gets the benefit of a dozen replays from different angles.

Referees get ONE chance to make the right call, based on what they see, at full speed and full size. It's REALLY easy to make the right call from a dozen views in slow motion sitting on your couch.

I was a referee for 11 years, and I'll be very blunt about it: You have no idea what you're talking about.

Take the refs out of the game... and when the teams start chopping each other down like redwoods, what are you going to do?

Take this nonsensical drivel to Beckett, where it fits in better.

 

[Kahnadah]

Doctor 1: "This patient is very sick."

Doctor 2: "I know. It looks bad."

Doctor 1: "What should we do?"

Doctor 2: "I know! We'll kill him!"

Doctor 1: "Isn't that a bit extreme?"

Doctor 2: "He won't be sick anymore."

 

[Nathan7070]

The Bruins penalty last night was hard for the refs to tell at full speed. My wife asked me why couldn't they review that like the goal's get reviewed. I explained why but I started to think why not, like baseball's new replay system. Wouldn't they rather get it right the 1st time instead of getting all this BS like lately about blown calls?

 

[nucks4cup]

you either win some calls or lose them. It all equals out in the end. and to say take the refs outta the game with 5 minutes to go might be the dumbest thing i've ever hear. you will have all the goons running players through the boards. The nhl will turn into wack a mole.

 

[SkyFire47]

So says the armchair quarterback who gets the benefit of a dozen replays from different angles.

Referees get ONE chance to make the right call, based on what they see, at full speed and full size. It's REALLY easy to make the right call from a dozen views in slow motion sitting on your couch.

the part that doesn't make sense is why the refs can't have the benefit of the dozen replays from different angles as well. the tech is there and being used in other situations; use it to confirm the right call is being made!

 

[wingnut888]

you either win some calls or lose them. It all equals out in the end. and to say take the refs outta the game with 5 minutes to go might be the dumbest thing i've ever hear. you will have all the goons running players through the boards. The nhl will turn into wack a mole.

I took the "take the refs out of the game with 5 min left" as a metaphor for swallow your whistles. I don't think Steve meant taking them off the ice literally. Though I don't want to speak for him.

 

[Zach6668]

IMO, a call in the first 5 minutes should be a call in the last 5. I don't see why there should be a difference? Why do you get to grapple someone because you're behind by a goal?

It makes no sense.

Along those lines, I think a call in October should be a call in June. But that's just me.

Beyond that, all of these "bad" calls even out in the long run anyways, and teams that whine about them are teams that shouldn't be in a playoff race anyways. The better teams find ways to overcome these things, and still make the playoffs, still win series', etc.

And with respect to the fact that it's disturbing to see a ref from behind the play make a call when I guy from 3 feet away doesn't make it, well, look at the recent Sutton hit on Dupuis, and watch the ref who is 10 feet away. He doesn't make the call, the guy at center does, and he made the RIGHT call.

 

[geerhed19]

the part that doesn't make sense is why the refs can't have the benefit of the dozen replays from different angles as well. the tech is there and being used in other situations; use it to confirm the right call is being made!

I think the problem becomes we're then watching a 6 hour game because it takes so long to review all the "questionable" plays. Every close offside that leads to a goal, every bloody nose (a la J-Bo last night) that doesn't result in a penalty, it would end up being too much.

I think it would make more sense for call to be more consistent; none of this "letting them play" talk, how bout a penalty is a penalty. If you called it all the time, players would get used to it. The issue in my eyes is that they get away with something one game and not the next.

 

[wingnut888]

IMO, a call in the first 5 minutes should be a call in the last 5. I don't see why there should be a difference? Why do you get to grapple someone because you're behind by a goal?

It makes no sense.

Along those lines, I think a call in October should be a call in June. But that's just me.

Beyond that, all of these "bad" calls even out in the long run anyways, and teams that whine about them are teams that shouldn't be in a playoff race anyways. The better teams find ways to overcome these things, and still make the playoffs, still win series', etc.

And with respect to the fact that it's disturbing to see a ref from behind the play make a call when I guy from 3 feet away doesn't make it, well, look at the recent Sutton hit on Dupuis, and watch the ref who is 10 feet away. He doesn't make the call, the guy at center does, and he made the RIGHT call.

It may have been the right call but if that was the case then what the heck was the guy 10 feet away doing?? It shows how screwed up the 2 ref system is. Thanks to whoever is making the rules because the refs obviously have no clue what is and isn't a call these days just like most fans. Back in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's when a call was made it was obvious. These days each game is called differen't which is obviously frustrating to fans and I would guess to most referee's.

 

[wingnut888]

I think the problem becomes we're then watching a 6 hour game because it takes so long to review all the "questionable" plays. Every close offside that leads to a goal, every bloody nose (a la J-Bo last night) that doesn't result in a penalty, it would end up being too much.

I think it would make more sense for call to be more consistent; none of this "letting them play" talk, how bout a penalty is a penalty. If you called it all the time, players would get used to it. The issue in my eyes is that they get away with something one game and not the next.

BINGO!!!!!

 

[Big Tall]

So says the armchair quarterback who gets the benefit of a dozen replays from different angles.

Referees get ONE chance to make the right call, based on what they see, at full speed and full size. It's REALLY easy to make the right call from a dozen views in slow motion sitting on your couch.

I was a referee for 11 years, and I'll be very blunt about it: You have no idea what you're talking about.

Take the refs out of the game... and when the teams start chopping each other down like redwoods, what are you going to do?

Take this nonsensical drivel to Beckett, where it fits in better.

This.

The calls that are right far outweigh the calls that are wrong but the later, of course, get most of the attention. Overall, refs do a great job. If players don't want to take a chance on the ref calling a penalty they should be aware of what they're doing and not put themselves in a position to be called, whether it's a phantom call or not. Why else do coaches preach discipline at every moment?

 

[wingnut888]

This.

The calls that are right far outweigh the calls that are wrong but the later, of course, get most of the attention. Overall, refs do a great job. If players don't want to take a chance on the ref calling a penalty they should be aware of what they're doing and not put themselves in a position to be called, whether it's a phantom call or not. Why else do coaches preach discipline at every moment?

For the most part I don't have a problem with the refs. I just don't feel they are all on the same page. Hence why we have such complaining. If it's cut and dry what is and isn't a call no one would have anything to complain about.

 

[pssteve]

Exactly Trevor. No one has ever paid to go and see a ref work a game. Well except my defensive friend in SK who ref'd for 11 years maybe his mom paid to see him work a game.
Back to my point. The best refereed game is one in which the ref is invisible. The direction to these guys should be call every infraction that you SEE. Don't make any close calls and don't call something that you thought maybe you saw. Don't make a call from 170 feet away . ELIMINATE THE PHANTOM CALLS!!
As much as we criticized the court when OJ got off it is better that 100's of guilty guys go free rather than convicting 1 innocent defendant.

 

[Zach6668]

It may have been the right call but if that was the case then what the heck was the guy 10 feet away doing?? It shows how screwed up the 2 ref system is. Thanks to whoever is making the rules because the refs obviously have no clue what is and isn't a call these days just like most fans. Back in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's when a call was made it was obvious. These days each game is called differen't which is obviously frustrating to fans and I would guess to most referee's.

I think in that case that ref was clearly incompetent. He sorta like half put up his arm, and then for whatever reason didn't want to do it.

My completely hypothetical guess is that it was because the Isles were the team down by 1.

This is completely off the wall, but I wonder what the results would be if they studied the last 5 minutes of 1-goal games. I would bet the penalties are way lopsided in favor of the team who are ahead (giving the losing team the power plays). Of course, there are other factors involved here, like the losing team working harder, thus drawing more penalties, etc, but I still think the referees tend to skew it for the purposes of some sort of storyline they have in their own heads.

Just my thoughts. In general, I find the officiating to be quite satisfactory. Let's face it, it's a very difficult job, and because of that, poor calls, made at high speed are going to happen, but eventually they even out to the point where they don't mean much. It might cost you a game at one point, but down the road it might gift you a game.

 

[Metrags]

THere needs to be a more uniform way of calling penalties.

One ref lets em play, another calls phantom hooking penalties from the other side of the ice. It reminds me of plate umpires all having different size strike zones. So the batter has to get used to the umpire and how he calls the game.

I would be much happier if coachs were allowed one "objection" call, sort of like the red flag in football. If the penalty is overturned, the coach gets the flag back. If the call is not overturned, he loses the flag. The NFL did this because they knew the refs didnt get it 100% right during a fast full contact sport. We are only just now using replays for goals. But when a highsticking doubleminor is called on you for no reason, and the GWG is scored on the ensuing play, there is something wrong.

Even if only certain penalties were reviewable, like high sticking, holding, and goalie interference, for example.