One part of last night’s goal/non-goal controversy that escaped notice fairly quickly was when, after the game, Terry Murray was asked if he received any explanation from the on-ice officials as to why Martin Hanzal’s goal was upheld. Those who saw the video of the postgame interview saw Murray wrinkle up his face for a moment and say, “They don’t come near you.” Murray didn’t seem pleased with the lack of communication from the officials. Today, after practice, I asked him for his opinion as to what the officials’ responsibility is, in terms of explaining calls to coaches. Murray was a little more even-keel in his comments, but didn’t back off his strong assertion that Hanzal’s goal should not have counted…
MURRAY: “It used to be that way. They would always come over and talk, through the game, and there was pretty good communication between the referees and the coaches. That whole philosophy has changed, and that’s fine. Once the review is done, I don’t think that there needs to be a follow-up by the official. The referee on the ice did call it a goal. The final decision, obviously, is the review, not necessarily to override the referee on the ice. Most often times, it will not, if there’s a goal called in those situations. It’s similar to the goal in Ottawa that Ryan Smyth scored late in the game. That was a good goal. The referee waved it off immediately. Unfortunately, to me, that’s the most exciting play there is in the game. In the regular 60 minutes, it’s whenever you tie the game up, or the winning goal in the last minute of play. I think that should automatically be a goal, and let’s go to review. It has to be without any doubt, whatsoever, that it’s not a goal. To me, last night, there was no way that was going to be overruled, in my opinion. I don’t think the referee has an obligation, or responsibility, to come to me and tell me what the final decision was.”
Question: But you didn’t change your opinion that it shouldn’t have been a goal, right?
MURRAY: “It was no goal. I could see that from the bench. We all came back to the bench and everybody was talking about it. We were just waiting for the faceoff to come down in their end, because of the high stick, and let’s get playing again. When there’s such a length of time on the review, I’m dumbfounded. What’s going on? How could it come down to being called a goal, on video review? That’s why there is multi-million dollars spent on these systems around the rinks, to get it right. Where’s the credibility in the whole thing? If I can see it from the bench, and the referee has called it a goal — and sometimes that happens, because of traffic in front of the goal and all that — there’s no question, when you go to the review, that the stick is two feet above the crossbar. I still haven’t figured it out. I watched it a dozen times this morning, and I still don’t know how they can look at it and say it was a goal.”
Question: It looked like even their players knew it shouldn’t have been a goal…
MURRAY: They all knew. The player that scored the goal knew. They were all waiting for the faceoff to come back into their own end.”
I really want to do this $1 donation thing. It would be a serious statement if you ask me. How can we make this happen?
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fsd1 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:38 pm
@Subby, I’m in!
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puck73 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@Subby, dont think you need to be shipping millionaires your money. Its your right if you want to but trust me, there’s some damn good people out there that are overqualified and out of work who could use it more.
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Subby Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@puck73, Its a freakin buck and shows our loyalty.
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Shakes Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:44 pm
@Subby, hahahahahahaha
puck73 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:46 pm
@Subby, I think you would get more satisfaction out of a coaching change and a top left winger.
concussionman02 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@Subby, I’ve made my donation every year for the last 20 years.
Dominick Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:03 pm
@Subby, Send your money here Freeticketsforlongsufferingkingsfanswhostillwanttoseeallthegames/dominick.com
tellmeY Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:01 pm
@Subby, I’mm in subby!
Bfarm Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:56 pm
“Ive made my donation every year for the last 20 years”
enough said
launch Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:51 pm
@puck73,
thanks for saying that…..I was going to but decided against it due to the backlash bound to happen.
i get the standby your team show aupport thing…go buy a season seat or a single game seat if you want to
absolutely ludicrous to fork over even a dollar to a person that can easily afford the $50K when so many other people (Kings fans included) could use it.
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wavesinair Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@Subby, Send your money to a charity where it might make a difference. Not to a rich GM that uses smoke and mirrors to take attention away from the worst losing streak in the past 15 years. Wake the hell up people.
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Jason4Kings Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@wavesinair,
Thank you.
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Will Hutchison Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:03 pm
@Subby, We could make a $1 donation to Kings Care or some other team charity in the name of Dean Lombardi as a form of protest.
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O-Dawg Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:34 pm
@Will Hutchison, 50k to Kings care would be awesome. I still can’t believe that was called a good goal.
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Subby Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:18 pm
@Will Hutchison, I like that but I was just saying to show that as backup our gm. Tbh I am glad he said whether it was right or wrong xD Aha and I do support my team by driving my ass up from Anaheim to see them play every game.
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That’s all right, Terry. Whenever something bad goes against your team, just be sure to throw the 4th line out there, and soon everything will be even worse.
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fsd1 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:38 pm
@EJ, what the hell are you talking about? I’m dumbfounded by the comments on this site. What does your comment have to do with the story?
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Shakes Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:45 pm
@fsd1,
Patrick O’Sullivan would’ve never let that high sticked goal count
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Kingme20 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@Shakes,
Mikus would have bent the air around it so that it floated up over the glass.
Cristobal Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:41 pm
@fsd1,
I believe he’s referring to the fact that just after the delay, Wesgarth was sent on and turned the puck over to make it a two goal deficit less than a minute after the goal was awarded.
Nail in the coffin.
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puck73 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:38 pm
@EJ, Exactly, and dont forget to put Westgarth out there on Satuday with Harrold as a forward..lol
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Mickey Keenan Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@EJ, Uhhh.. the Kings gave up a contested goal.. had a 5 minute rest while it was reviewed…. TM sends out the 4th line.. and Westy makes a great pass to a streaking PHX player for a 2-1… Now down 2-0. Good job TM.
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Okay Murray, you can have the one or two goals back Toronto robbed. Where would you like us to put this big shiny cup now that you’ve earned it?
Blast me if you want, but this team needs some leadership.
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fsd1 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:38 pm
@Jason4Kings, please read above
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Jason4Kings Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:42 pm
@fsd1,
Read above? The part where you’re dumbfounded?
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fsd1 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:52 pm
@Jason4Kings, whatever dude, you know EXACTLY what i mean. People need to stop commenting with stupdity. Im sure TM thinks this got him a shiny cup….DOH!
Jason4Kings Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:58 pm
@fsd1,
We’re all upset dude. I yell at Murray, you yell at me. Whatever indeed.
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fsd1 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:04 pm
@Jason4Kings, agree, i just have a hard time with the negativity, i think we all want the team to win. Here’s to a win tomorrow.
Jason4Kings Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:13 pm
@fsd 1
Here’s to many wins!
Wow, Terry would’ve made a great jobber for Vince McMahon in the 70s and 80s. He seems a little too willing to roll over and take it.
I disagree. I think both teams are entitled to know what the reasoning and decision of each and every review.
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Here is a nice read http://prosportsblogging.com/nhl-hockey/los-angeles-kings/facts-and-feelings-on-hanzals-high-stick-goal/
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SplattDaddy Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:12 pm
@hockeyfan B4 Gretzky, Great points made. Thanks for sharing.
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NOT IMPRESSED Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@hockeyfan B4 Gretzky, I don’t think Phoenix deserved the win. Even their own coach said they stole it.
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Is there a reason why the League doesn’t install cameras at the cross bar level? I’ll pay for them myself. Seriously, this is always an issue in games around the league. Don’t get it…..
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i have nothing more to add on this play, it was a bad call, lets move on!
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BS call and everyone knows it. Glad to hear TM kept his composure. I would have been irate! Throwing hockey sticks at the ref…
Obviously we need a streak of wins. Hopefully TM doesnt change the lines around again. I thought we played a good game. Just seemed impossible to get it in the net.
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kings would never accept our money anyways because kings would even look more worse doing that
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Tom Webster would’ve thrown a stick at the ref
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puck73 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 2:52 pm
@Shakes, And Larry Robinson would have flipped off the ref.
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Dominick Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:10 pm
@Shakes, I’ve seen a coach throw a bench once.
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edwood2 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@Shakes, Bobby Knight would have thrown the first row of seats and possibly Heidi Androl.
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Regardless of the Kings play, that call should never have happened.
It’s a big problem for the NHL when they can blow call this bad….I mean, you have the damn video. Look at it. o
There’s a great AP picture of the puck coming of the stick while the stick is at least 2 feet above the crossbar. Somoene should send that picture to Murphy and the NHL.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:18 pm
@kingfan,
I’m sure they’ve seen it…
That would’ve been the story if DL hadn’t gone all Mad Dog on us…
Next game, Clyde…
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Here is an article regarding some Bettman/Lombardi history.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/02/11/SP126627.DTL#ixzz1BiBGDl4Z
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Its nice to see someone has some emotion, too bad its the GM. The call is awful and the purpose of video review is to correct poor on ice work. The NHL owes its fans better than this.
However it does not cover up the fact the Kings play like they are dead, Quick is not mentally tough enough to be a starting goaltender for an entire season and Doughty looks more like Mark Hardy than Rob Blake. The power play has no point man or leader and the team does not even have 3 forwards of quality to create a top line.
Looks like another high draft pick this year. Probably will be wasted like they did using the fifth overall pick on Hickey, will never forget the gasp of the commentators when Lombardi announced that choice.
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Is anyone else sick of talking about this? The goal stood, time to move on and discuss and prepare for the next game.
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MR King Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:07 pm
@EternalOptimist, Absolutely. But it should be addressed, not from just a Kings fan viewpoint, but as a fan of hockey in general. Lack of consistent officiating and video review is why this league is such a joke.
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TinaBeana Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:10 pm
@EternalOptimist, yeah. i mean the game is decided, but i think what everyone wants is the league officials to admit that they were wrong or be held accountable for being inconsistent and incompetent.
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EternalOptimist Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:15 pm
@TinaBeana,
Well, that ain’t gonna happen LOL
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bob Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:11 pm
@EternalOptimist, yeah, or better yet, let’s talk about the draft!
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Role_Player Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:15 pm
@EternalOptimist, It is time for the Kings players and coaches to move on and prepare for the next game. As far as Kings fans, I’m for discussing it. Answer me this question: if the situation were identical, except the Kings were in Montreal and Michael Handzus at 6′ 5″ scored the goal, can you say with a straight face that the goal would be allowed????
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EternalOptimist Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:23 pm
@Role_Player,
I agree that the team should move forward… which is why I think TM should stop dwelling on it and move on. The players already have put it behind them based upon their post game comments.
I have no problem with the bloggers here discussing it till the cows come home. My comment is really a reaction to TM still complaining about this.
And yes it would have been a no goal in montreal
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King John Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:35 pm
@EternalOptimist,
NO, this will keep coming back, just like the Ottawa wave-off.
Just like THE illegal stick.
Just like the horrible ref’s calls in the playoffs vs. St.Louis (ask older fans).
Some things never die.
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Lost in all of this is the danger to other players of using the stick so high.
Good job NHL.
I hope you get sued when someone gets seriously injured.
Plus, the weight of the fine just shows they have something to hide.
Corruption and collusion.
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C’mon now! The NHL owns the pheonix Cayotes. Why would they make a judgement call against themselves?
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Terry,
Last nights call was rediculious….but you could have come out of your comatose stae and thrown a tirade to wake these guys up and show that there is life here…you should have ranted and raved and tossed crap around…Maybe get tossed from the game to make a statement that you aren’t going to put up with bad hockey, bad calls and whatever else you could have conjured up to spark this team….
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Rich,
You need to ask Terry Murray this question:
“What do you think of Murphy’s performance?”
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billand88 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:13 pm
@billand88,
That should read
“What’s your opinion of Murphy’s performance?”
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A suggestion for Dean Lombardi:
“The NHL has fined me $50,000 for making a public statement regarding my opinion about the capabilities and integrity of NHL employees who are charged with making impartial reviews of goals in NHL games. I will accept and pay the fine. But, as the Commissioner has made no reference or comment whatsoever regarding whether the call I was referring to was accurate, inaccurate, wrong or a mistake, and as I have no idea of what NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman intends to do with my fine, I instead choose to write a personal check for $50,000 made out to the Kings Care Foundation to satisfy the fine.”
Resulst:
Lombardi loses $50,000 out of pocket (Bettman’s desired action). Bettman wins.
Bettman refuses to accept Lombardi’s terms, faces continent-wide headlines of “NHL Commissioner Doesn’t Support Kids”. Bettman loses.
Do it Dean. make Soloman earn his retainer.
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You’re kidding I hope.
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King John Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:29 pm
@Ice Guy, This is directed to IceGuy above
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