There’s apparently nothing new from the NHL today regarding the clock controversy from Wednesday night’s Kings-Blue Jackets game. The story is significant enough that commission Gary Bettman talked about it during his weekly radio show. Here are a few more notes on the story.
– The league has sent two representatives to Los Angeles to talk to Staples Center arena personnel about the clock and about what might have happened. It’s not known when they might have a definitive answer.
– Based on the TV coverage clip, I timed the last 15 seconds of the game myself, and the time was 16.2 seconds, which would indicate a clock pause of 1.2 seconds. If you’re a believer in Dean Lombardi’s re-calibration theory, you’d want to go back and time the entire final minute, to see if it is accurate. I don’t have that full clip accessible here.
– Contrary to what has been written a couple places, I’ve still seen no evidence that the goal was initially waved off on the ice. If you watch the video, one ref has his hands out in an “all-clear’’ indication for the final three or four seconds. The other ref clearly points to the net, indicating a good goal.
– I’m told, by a couple different people, that when the clock is stopped, inside the booth next to the ice, that there is an audible beep, and that in this instance, nobody heard a beep. That would indicate that if there was a pause with the clock, it was a malfunction. It’s unfortunate that the league has allowed this “human error’’ possibility to remain part of the realm of possibility, when there’s no evidence of it. In fact, it would have been nice if everyone associated with the league had talked less. It would have been far more productive for the league to simply say, “We’re taking this seriously, and we will publicly present all the facts once our investigation is complete.’’ Nothing more.
Spot on, thanks for the update.
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Blake Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:11 pm
@DenshaOtoko, I couldn’t agree more, they’re making the kings look like the bad guys of everything with out proof. Kind of disappointing
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chris Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:29 pm
@Blake, totally agree. why are the kings at fault? the league should make a public statement that there is either an issue with the clock malfunctioning or inproper operation of the clock by a NHL employee… not a member of the Kings organization. Tough to read all the chatboards and news stories in other NHL cities talking down on the Kings as if they had any control over it. They just played until they heard the buzzer.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:40 pm
@chris, Now, if this happend in Montreal favoring the Habs…..then there TRULY is something to be concerned.
Remember McSorely stick incident with the Montreal stick boy??
puckbob Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 4:20 pm
@chris, that’s right. in the Times this moning it said they “clock people” are NHL people NOT Kings people
kozak Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:13 pm
@DenshaOtoko, agreed!
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:50 pm
@DenshaOtoko, For a team to cry over one goal/one game!!!!???? Gimmie a break!!! Seriously?!!??
One goal/one game is gonna make a difference to the COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS?????? LMAO
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You would have to time the entire period to get an accurate interpretation of the clock. Lombardi wasn’t lying though when he says that it happens often.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gTGWoDEMwQ&feature=player_embedded
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VanKingsFan Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:08 pm
@Telos, The only question I have is if the actual game clock did the same, and not just the TV graphic.
But well done Sir! Someone call the Hardly Boys!
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300x13 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@VanKingsFan, I believe the TV clock is electronically tied to the official game clock. As a matter of fact, I think it is even called out specifically in the NHL rule book that the home TV production has to tie their clock graphic into the official game clock. That’s why when there are malfunctions with the TV graphic they actually paste in a visual of the arena clock via some camera angle.
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Trip Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:04 pm
@Telos, after seeing that, I think DL was right. Well whatta ya know! Case closed!!
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Jeff Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:31 pm
@Trip,
To get the real truth, the NHL just needs to go to Staples and run the clock down from 20 minutes and watch it carefully. They can even stop it a few times to emulate real game stoppages.
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Clockwork orange
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Duncanz Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@neil, I liked their headline in Columbus, ‘Clockwork Strange’.
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Colin Campbell let his mouth run away on him? Really?
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DesertKing Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:35 pm
@cjms,
Hey Colin, if the NHL had paid attention when reviewing your contract, tbey would have notice the discretion in what they are paying you and would called “no contract.” What a maroon! Bettman, show some leadership and accept some responsibility on the part of the league rather leaving the impression that the Kings did something wrong or improper.
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puck73 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:52 pm
@DesertKing, Totally agree. In all the years I have been watching and playing hockey, this ia the 1st time I have ever heard of anything like this. And I have NEVER heard of anyone intentionally messing with the time. My God, what a bunch of morons.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@puck73,
They aren’t morons. Ask them, they’ll tell you! Repeatedly!
rogiesbackup Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:47 pm
@puck73, Even if the timers where Kings/Staples employee why would they do it against Colombus who’s not even in our division.
McSorleyfan Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:50 pm
@puck73, it makes me wonder… If I wanted to pay off the timekeeper because I know Dewey will have an opportunity to T one up with a second to go, how much does time cost, per second? I can picture that conversation with Monty Python sketch humor. You wish to purchase time? Yes please! How many minutes? Oh, a second will be plenty; in fact I doubt I’ll use the whole thing anyway. Time’s too precious to waste.
mikie Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:28 pm
the war room in toronto…..what a joke…….they need to be replaced with people who think before they put there foot in their mouth…..yikes
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Mike Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 4:19 pm
@mikie, Agreed. Bettman, Campbell, Murphy, Shanahan all need to loom in the and think before they speak before backing up to the pay window.
Mike Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 4:24 pm
@mikie, Bottom line: I don’t think ANY of those league officials are doing their job adequateky. My opinion only.
I thought the linesman waving his hands in a safe motion was referring to the puck being hit out of the air with a high stick by JJ or the Columbus player.
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The other “ref” was a linesman signaling that the potential high stick was a legal play.
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Tuff luck, no take backs! So stuff it in your Colon, Colin!
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Deke'r Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:26 pm
@Dominick, …sweet….apparently Colins’ oblivious to what goes on in the league…
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Kingsfanone Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:38 pm
@Deke’r,
Apparently he always has been oblivious.
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Dominick Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:48 pm
@Deke’r, Agreed!
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my thought was that the timekeeper stopped the clock when the ref/linesman spread his arms out, thinking the play was blown dead…then he quickly realized that wasn’t the case and started it back up. but that would be simple human error, and since the timekeeper is hired by the league, it would be unfortunate but no big deal.
if not…I don’t know. but now I am reading it stopped twice, at 3.1 and 1.8 seconds, so who knows….
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puck73 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:32 pm
@5-Hole, Exactly! Bingo! The time keepers, and the goal judges are NHL employees. For these idiots to think Kings employees might be behind the clock is a joke.
Hey Bettman and Campbell! Check yourself a little bit before pointing the finger! Oh, and that goes for you too Scott Howson!
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:50 pm
@5-Hole,
watching the replay.. the clock doesn’t stop at 3.1, but it does look like a bit of a hiccup..
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‘If you’re a believer in Dean Lombardi’s re-calibration theory, you’d want to go back and time the entire final minute, to see if it is accurate. I don’t have that full clip accessible here.’
Sounds like someone needs a NHL gamecenter subscription!
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kostamojen Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:54 pm
@tornado12, actually, I think you would have to time the whole 20 minute period to verify DLs explanation.
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According to Fraser, the “wave off” was about a possible high stick. It’s a good read btw. Love the Fraser blog! So much insight from the side that never talks after a game. (well never talks to us anyway)
http://tsn.ca/blogs/kerry_fraser/?id=386752
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Deke'r Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:48 pm
@Kris, …..some of the reader comments are halarious…..thanks for the link…
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KC23 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:53 pm
@Kris, I am also a regular reader of that blog. It is excellent even though I hated Fraser up until he saved our butts against the Leafs (although he blew the call imho, Gretzky should of been ejected).
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Ive heard people say the ref does a washout signal, but the ref located near the right wing boards is actually a LINESMAN, so he was likely waving off saying the puck was not hit with a high stick by Johnson.
the actual referee on the play does an awesome goal signal, i think he was really excited to witness a “buzzer beater”
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DLB Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@Sebastian, that is exactly what happened.
Incorrect reporting on places like Puckdaddy and even the NHL’s website has added a LOT to the confusion. At least Kerry Fraser clarified it in his TSN blog.
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Kings can play 2 second les in Columbus. GO KINGS.
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Dominick Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:47 pm
@vladimir, They can do it while threir sitting around passing on the perimeter on their next PP. lol
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Read a post on the NHL website by a San Jose Sharts fan that the Kings are a cheating bunch and will do anything to “buy a goal”…… Seriously? I know our offense isn’t the best but gimme a freakin break….we could at least afford 4 goals every game! Lol!
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Right on Rich!
The league is just making itself look bad by talking so much about it while at the same time, throwing the Kings under the bus because most people assume it’s a Kings/AEG issue & not the NHL. Where is all this talk about a ref calling off the goal coming from? The only one doing a wave off is a Linesman while the ref clearly called goal. Last I knew, linesman can’t call off goals, no?
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enough, let it go people, DL remarks were silly. The clock malfunctioned, the kings benifited (for once) they won the game. End of story. Move along, nothing more to see here.
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puck73 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:38 pm
@Kevco, The clock was clearly not working properly, fine. That being said, I dont hear anyone, including the Kings crying about the referee blowing his whistle way too early and waiving off that goal that the Kings clearly scored earlier in the game at all! Hey Columbus! You didnt deserve to win that game, and YOU ESPECIALLY didnt deserve to win when the Kings had you hemmed in, in your own end in the last 2 minutes forcing Pahlsson to take a penalty! GO AWAY AND ENJOY LAST PLACE LOSERS!
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Dominick Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:50 pm
@puck73, That whistle was way early, and the Kings would of scored on that play. Refs definately took 1 away by blowing the play dead on a puck that wasn’t even covered.
1 for 1 in my book.
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Kevco Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:53 pm
@Dominick, too many bad calls against the Kings in the past, agreed. I was in the car most of yesterday listening to NHL radio going on and on about the clock. I couldn’t listen today. Move on folks.
NOT IMPRESSED Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:01 pm
@Kevco, So you say DL’s remarks are silly. Based on what, may I ask?
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Deke'r Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:07 pm
@Kevco, ….unless you have irrevocable proof I wouln’t discount DLs’ failure assement entirely….
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At least we’ve made in into the news! Any pub is better than no pub. How many Canadian viewers are say “So there’s a team in LA?”
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great commentary, RICH…
i agree that the league could have handled their own comments a lot better than they have, like designating a single spokesperson to handle the matter, a la the nfl…
all these speculative theories by many league executives only adds fuel to the fire of the plausibility of some impropriety or foul play made by someone related to the kings…and like you said, there has been no evidence of such occurring…
tony kornheiser and michael wilbon on their excellent show, pardon the interruption, said yesterday that they thought that the league should mandate both teams to replay the part of the game when the malfunction happened…they both thought that since the nhl has the best reputation among the major four sports leagues for implementing instant change and resolution to matters like this one, something would be done along the lines of the aforementioned…kornheiser went as far as to say that he thought that they will do this…
as much as i enjoy that show and their opinions, i disagree with both of them jumping to conclusions…like many have…that something was deliberately done to augment the clock…if there was no human error involved, then what can the league do…? nothing…
here’s what bettman said…:
“Not good, not acceptable — if [the clock] had run straight through, the game would have been at a tie at that point, would have gone to overtime. And maybe L.A. would have won anyway, maybe not. That’s not the point. We are taking this very seriously. We’re investigating as to how it happened. Obviously it’s either human error or a technology glitch. We don’t know which, but we’ve already begun investigating and we will get to the bottom of it.
“Now I know lots of people are going to say, ‘How can you have a mistake?’ Well, unfortunately or fortunately, our game is full of mistakes — by players, by coaches and occasionally by officials — and on some levels it’s no different than if a guy makes a bad penalty call, puts a team on the power play and they score the winning goal. It happens. We don’t like when it happens and our job is to minimize mistakes. We don’t want any, but obviously when you have a human element in any aspect of the game you’re going to have it.
“If we had any reason to believe that this was intentional we would deal with it in a whole different way, but we’re going to investigate it, get to the bottom of it.”
so, as of now, it looks like nothing will be done to change results of the game…i think it would have been wise for bettman to take control of the situation and had someone in charge of issuing a single statement, putting a ban from anyone else stating their view publicly, instead of the free-for-all of opinions we’re getting now…
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Deke'r Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:56 pm
@variable, …….nothing will happen…too many costs involved…..game is in the books….sorry BJs….
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This confirms one clear fact, though, even though in this case the game was tied at the time of the…issue. If you’re ahead by a goal in the final minute, the clock moves more slowly. If you’re behind by a goal, the clock moves more quickly. It’s Einstein’s Theory of Relative Desperation.
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Dominick Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:53 pm
@Mel Powell, That sounds about right, even if the clock is correct.
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Deke'r Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@Mel Powell, …best explanation I’ve heard yet….LOL!
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King John Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:50 pm
@Mel Powell, You’re not too far off…
Interesting: I actually watched something on TV on the Science channel where they proved that time REALLY actually moves slowly for someone when he’s in a high stress situation! They did the experiments live and showed how time is relative to the individual and actually can move more slowly! That’s what the clocks showed! I was convinced from what I know about the science of time and what they showed me in the experiments. I also remember some years ago in KC being in the back seat of a car spinning on the freeway after a big truck hit us, and man, those seconds went by extremely slowly while I was wondering what would happen to us (we spun off the side of the freeway, hit a tree sideways which kept us from rolling, then went straight upright down an embankment and hit a another tree which stopped us). The time that went by seemed like forever.
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Deke'r Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@King John, ….I agree….when I crashed my cycle it seemed as if it took a very long time to hit the ground….seemed as though I had plenty of time to position myself for the fall…
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Steve W Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:04 pm
@Mel Powell, Why does it feel that when the Kings are on the PP, the time goes by much faster then when they are on the PK?
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vplaza Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:41 pm
@Steve W,
Einstein’s Theory of Relative Futility?
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It was a technical error with the Staples Center game clock. Other examples of this happening at the end of a Kings game can be found on YouTube… Compounding the technical error were two human errors. First, the video production crew for FSN West chose, for whatever reason, to cue the replay (containing the official game clock) at 1.7 seconds. In other words, right as the clock began to tick down again. Second, the video replay officials in Toronto relied solely on the FSN West feed for their determination that the puck had entered the goal with time still remaining on the clock. Thus, they had no idea that there was a clock error prior to that point, despite the fact that Toronto has access to every video feed of the game, and then more.
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Kings Cup Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:23 pm
@CBJKings2011, Most of what you said was completely false. Toronto could have looked at whatever they wanted. You need to stop with your conspiracy theories and enjoy your first overall pick.
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Bettman and Campbell are akin to organic polymers of high molecular wieght used to maintain feminine hygiene!
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Dominick Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:01 pm
@tornado12, They can also use other synthetic polymers, such as converted condoms, and used pucks. All previously used of course to promote a healthy recylable concsious society.
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tornado12 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:03 pm
@Dominick, rotflmfao!
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Deke'r Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:13 pm
@tornado12, ….as well as the liquid solution used to clean out the area where those polymers are used….
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tornado12 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 5:59 pm
@Deke’r, lol
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Seems like a total double standard. If I were Luke or Leiweike I remind Campbell and Bettman they work for the owners/ Board of Governors not the other way around.
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I’m getting the feeling that Toronto hates DL. They seem to go out of their way to try and stick it to DL every chance they get.
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Deke'r Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:59 pm
@KC23, ….I’ve had that feeling for a couple of years now….
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tornado12 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@KC23, what ever gave you that idea?
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So I heard from a lil bird that Leafs and Kings are scouting each other and Stoll and MacArthur are the names going around.
Kings and CBJs are also believed to be in serious discussions about Carter. Bernier is the name thrown around in that.
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I King Sachmo Stallion Maximus The Great Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:06 pm
@Subby, Tell me more, tell me more.
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puck73 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:08 pm
@Subby, I like Clarke Macarthur as well. It just depends on the price tag.
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KC23 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:13 pm
@puck73, Doesn’t matter if they gave us Carter for free. His contract is not worth it imho.
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puck73 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@KC23, Wasnt talking about Carter. Read my post again, I was talking about Macarthur.
Rumors on TSN of Ryan Smytn to the Rangers. Now that would totally change my opinion of Smyth (if he waived his no-trade for that) and would expose the whole trade to Edmonton as a farce.
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puck73 Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@BluLiner, If he goes to the Rangers then that should tell you what the problem in LA was. Here’s a hint..He lives in Maine, and is no longer a Kings employee.
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King John Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:56 pm
@BluLiner, wow, I thought that part of the reason Smyth wanted to leave was the suffocation of offense here under TM and DL (besides being near home). I think he likes Edmonton, but really feels he could win a cup with New York before he retires (but not with the Kings…).
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Deke'r Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:24 pm
@BluLiner, ….can’t blame the guy for wanting to win a cup….
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vplaza Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@Deke’r,
No, but you can blame him for being a liar.
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You play the game until a whistle or buzzer sounds….game over move on GKG! To think if this was a soccer game and the ref allowed for injury time…..now that can be controversial.
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can’t say the league has it out for the kings
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Dean Lombardi; the original Clocket Scientist..
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I just want to say that having looked and looked I have found little/no info in measuring time with a coulomb. 1 coulomb of electrons flow to a load at 1 amp for 1 second. I guess if you could count a coulomb of electrons accuratly and had a an exact and unchanging constant current source you could extract a second of time algebraically. Counting the coulomb is what I think is more than very difficult. Ribidium generators, or oven controlled crystals or synthesized IC generated signals are what are used in places where constant time periods are necessary. Right now Deano is way up on the bullsitters list with me. This is not to say that very accurate timings weren’t being made. Display glitches are possible, as is operator error. The loose screw behing the controls is the most common error in electronicland.
That said, how anyone can think that the glitch was purposeful beats me. To hold then start the clock because we needed .4 or.6 or whatever amount more to score would mean the NHL official was looking into the future knowing the goal would be late before the puck even started to Dewey. Not likely.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@anonandonanon,
I used to use 1 coulomb, but I changed, and ever since I’ve loved a brush.
Much better!
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If you play the full 20 minutes till the horn goes, CB shouldn’t complain!
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anonandonanon Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:28 pm
@MichaeL_DD8, agreed, only became a problem because of the scrutiny. Probably happens all the time.
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Despite the pause on the clock I have yet to see anyone prove that the third period didn’t last exactly 20 minutes from puck drop to final buzzer. Isn’t that what really matters?
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I think the bad ice caused the clock to freeze up. GO KINGS GO!!!
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The timekeeper lost the puck and expected a whistle. It happens ALL THE TIME, it just happened to happen at the end with Doughty looming. The thought that anyone who have the intuition to add an extra second to allow a goal is ridiculous. There’s no way that anyone knew adding time would amount towards a goal.
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Does the NHL let arenas select whatever timing system they want?
Do they witness and certify calibration?
How many systems are currently operating properly?
This is the league’s issue concerning game integrity, NOT a Kings issue! Bettman & Campbell know this but are trying deflect responsibility at the Kings expense, pathetic.
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I timed the final minute twice…one time ended up 1:01.2 and the second was even worse at 1:01.9. By the way, I was at the game and thought the goal came late anyway, was thinking overtime in my mind.
It’s all fun to talk about, but the bottom line is the game will stand as is and we should all move on, and get the issue fixed, whatever it is.
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Hey! Guys! Remember, this isn’t baseball!
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