Kyle Clifford skated for approximately 20 minutes after today’s morning skate and shot some pucks, but did not participate in the intense skating and drills with Scott Parse and the players who are expected to be scratched tonight. The Kings are still listing Clifford as having an upper-body injury, but they’re certainly following the protocol for a player recovering from a concussion. Clifford returned to the ice today, one week after being hit by Vancouver’s Byron Bitz, one week being the minimum off-ice time for a player who has suffered a concussion. Clifford was not available for comment after he skated today. Incidentally, Bitz is now eligible to play again, after a two-game suspension, but isn’t expected to be in Vancouver’s lineup tonight.
Clifford’s name also came up today in the context of the hit delivered by Phoenix’s Raffi Torres on Chicago’s Marian Hossa last night. Torres has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL, pending a disciplinary hearing. Darryl Sutter was asked for his opinion on the Torres hit.
SUTTER: “We’re big into that time between when you have the puck and when you don’t. That’s probably the biggest thing, when you look at it. I didn’t watch it, other than live, but there was time between when the player lets go of the puck and the contact. Whatever it is, is what it is. We’ve already seen, in our series, where a player got suspended for two games, and we lost a player who went for a five-minute skate today, which was a pretty brutal hit. The variety of the way the protocol is, in terms of suspensions, you really don’t know. We have opinions on what we thought of last night and what we thought of suspensions yesterday and what we thought of suspensions in our series, but our opinions don’t really have much impact on anything.’’
Looks like they’re setting up to throw the book at Torres. Well deserved.
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
@KC23, Agreed. I think, just like in a criminal case he needs to be taken out that same game because he is considered “a threat” to others. The offender needs to miss the same amount of games as the victim. If the victim never returns to the ice and his career is over, then sorry to the offender.
Yet, here again FOUR official didn’t make a call. NHL has to stop this “Bad Cops” mentality of “protecting each others back.”
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
@rogiesbackup, **in game referees “protecting each others back.”
[Reply]
dahack11 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
@KC23, Still waiting for everyone else’s thoughts:
NHL problems….
Let’s take the latest: Torres/Hossa:
It cracks me up….but not really….
Depending on the team, all 20 guys saw it (in this case Chicago), or all 20 guys didn’t see it (in this case Phoenix). All 4 refs saw it, or all 4 didn’t.
Until an NHL team calls out THEIR own & not just the other team, this will not end. EACH team in the NHL is part of the problem, not just/only Shanahan. “Diving” is the same way & don’t even get me started on the Clowe incident. These things are ruining the integrity of my favorite sport.
thoughts?
[Reply]
Shotongoal Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
@dahack11, Well said and totally agree.
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@dahack11, Agreed. NHL and the referees is PICKING and CHOOSING what it wants to “see” as to what’s right or what’s wrong and how it should take action. Shea Weber is a great example.
[Reply]
Anh Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
@dahack11, 100%
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
@dahack11, I brought myself up on association football and it used to be a great sport.
European leagues were competing with each other and began importing more technically equipped players to raise the level of play. Unfortunately,this function corresponded with the importation of a pernicious element that has become the institution, and slowly, figuatively and literally, brought the sport to it’s knees.
I used to get upset at “sissy soccer” comments but now I have come to accept the scenario and have been watching more hockey than soccer the last few years.
But NOW I am coming to notice the same noxious influences that invaded my other sport creeping into my hockey.
On the surface, the situation appear inverse. The Northern European soccer leagues brought in players from exotic climes and the sport began to transform and slowly lose its nobility. The NHL, it can be strongly argued, has been transforming in personnel ‘towards’ the Northern European profile!
Here’s where I believe the rub is.
Those Euro players have grown up playing hockey, sure. But they all come from countries where soccer is the national pastime and you know that they are inevitably heavily influenced by it. That’s why you see teams warming up pregame playing ‘hacky sack’ all the time nowadays.
So, just like tea (which came from the far east) is now considered emblematic of the British culture, and pizza and beer (Europe) typical of the American lifestyle, it seems, from my humble outpost here in Pahrump, NV, that the invasion of European values to our hockey shores has been just as unhealthy as the foodstuffs they came in the wake of.
As Coach Darryl says, “If you’ve got a better analogy than that one …. there isn’t! Right?” [laughs]
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
@Duncanz, who are you, Oliver Twist? You brought yourself up??? LMBO!
letswinthecup2012 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
@dahack11, yup
[Reply]
In other news, Byron Bitz is eligible to play tonight.
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
LOLz…sorry Rich…scanned and DIDN’T SEE that you said that.
[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, I hear Clifford skated today too.
[Reply]
MeanMrMustard Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), hahahahha!
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), I had it coming.
The NHL has a real officiating problem on it’s hands. How can 4 refs miss things so badly. Not one of them saw Clowe play the puck from the bench and not one saw that hit last night on Hossa. I don’t know but I saw a linesman right there behind the hit and it sure looked like he was watching what happened. Suspensions are a joke too the way they are being handed out. Let’s hope 13 gets back to playing soon.
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
@yetiman_oc, How do you not see the puck on a breakaway, and the stick that interferes with it? Yeah, the league has a WWE-style problem. If it isn’t by design, they’re letting it look like it is.
[Reply]
Steven H Brown Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Shannahan seems to be cracking under the playoff pressure, but the NHL, and the other major sports leagues have to get this under control. Officials need to be part of the transparency in the league, we need to know if and how they are disciplined, and why similar to what Shannahan has done, with player discipline. It seems to me, that the collective bargaining agreements with players and officials, may be part of the problem here. I would like to see flexible suspensions, so that rather than 3 games for running through Smith, that Shaw got should have been a length of the series suspension.This would actually be good for the Blackhawks, if game 6 and game 7 happen, coach Joel Quenville will have a decision to make about playing Shaw, will his presence on the ice, bring retaliation, yada, yada yada. The games are exciting and intense enough, without the need for a team to retaliate, against a guy who made a bad play, as in Shaw’s case, or a complete idiot, whose career should be over like Torres. We need to do the same for officials,given the point shaving scandal in the NBA only a few years ago, if we are going to believe that the NHL, the NBA, the NFL and MLB are being played on level playing fields, then we have to have public knowledge of discipline, or lack thereof, for officials too.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
@Steven H Brown, The most psychological aspect of any contact sport such as hockey is the officiating side of it. Therefore it is also the most sensitive.
You, Steve, and I are as partisan as the VAN fan over there who maintains the opposite position of whatever one we take.
Player discipline and the training and fluctuation in standing of each official are necessarily vastly different.
You might notice that no sport anywhere airs the dirty laundry of its officiating problems to the public.
When a referee makes a call (might be great, might be poor) either you and I, or the VAN fan over there is going to be shreiking, “Unfair!”
Why, when the common hockey fan (who is highly subjective and a terrible judge) won’t accept ANY decision against his/her side would the sport have any interest in advertizing further the internal workings of its officiating functions??
Trust me, I’ve been on both sides of the equation here.
Sebastian Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
@yetiman_oc, yeah that linesman was watching every part of that hit, he even looked to brace himself for impact, maybe he was too close, but he should have made the call. i know things happen real fast, but thats why these officiating teams are there, they are supposed to see this stuff and call it as a team, even if the refs miss it, the linesman should make the call.
[Reply]
Lake Forest Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
@yetiman_oc, agree with you here…..
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yetiman_oc Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
@Lake Forest, first time for everything, eh?
[Reply]
Lake Forest Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
@yetiman_oc, if I can give you crap about disagreeing with you, I owe you a comment if i agree!!!
GKG
rogiesbackup Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
@yetiman_oc, I call it the “bad cops” mentality of the in-game referees protecting each others back!
Not to get religion involve, but there is a saying in mine that says “ask 4 rabbi’s there opinion,” and you’ll get 5 different opinions.
Yah, something fishy when ALL four agree ALL THE TIME.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@rogiesbackup, Try reffing.
[Reply]
CupRun2012 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
@yetiman_oc, With so much on the line, especially during the playoffs, doesn’t the NHL want to get it right? I think the Rich mentioned that there’s an off-ice supervisor of officials that attends the games…why don’t they look at the video–there must be at least 8 cameras capturing the game & in HI-DEF! If you’ve ever sat down behind the glass, you can’t image how fast the game is and how fast a play happens…in a instant. I’m surprised that the officials catch what they do. But to clean up the game, to make it fair to both teams and to get the calls right, we need to move into the 21st century and figure out a better way to “see” the game.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
@CupRun2012, I
Thereby turning hockey into football.
Super.
[Reply]
PurpleBlacknGold Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
@Duncanz, I don’t think anyone wants to slow the game down that much, but I am open to using video review in limited circumstances. I think its becoming apparent, especially this season, that the on ice officials are missing too many big calls.
purple and gold Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
@yetiman_oc, If the officials can handle it, put the officiating back in the players hands, literally.
[Reply]
Drew Doughty is due for his customary 4 point first round playoff game.
[Reply]
This brings up a good point. Why can’t there be a set time between a hit and the puck leaving the stick of a player. I believe there’s a ‘stride’ rule, but I don’t believe there’s a time rule. It makes sense to me to have one.
It’s not so much for the players to count on the ice as it is for the NHL to use as a tool for punishment. A player almost always knows when it’s late, but for some reason that time period is still subjective in terms of was it late or not.
Then again, maybe there is a rule and I have no idea about it. Or maybe it’s just a bad idea.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Actually, one has kind of developed in the back round. They count the number of frames from the time the puck leaves the victums stick to the time of impact to determine the lenght of time. If it is less than 0.5 seconds it is determined to be clean in regards to the timing of the hit. Brown’s hit was 0.4 seconds btw, Torres hit was 0.8.
[Reply]
KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair) Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
@KC23, Good to know. I haven’t tried to research that. Where did you find it?
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Beautiful in theory / Impractical to use that or any method on the ice, unfortunately.
[Reply]
glad one of the teams is following the protocol for a player recovering from a concussion
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
@Lake Forest, VanCan have one little pinky finger still around the handle of The Stanley Cup – and it’s Daniel Sedin’s …
[Reply]
Real happy to read that Cliff is back on the ice. Have lots of respect for the kid
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….how’s that start time on Sunday treating everyone? Let’s get it done TONIGHT boys! Take it to them! Leave no doubt!
GKG!!!!
[Reply]
Trip Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
@Harrison Merkin, have you seen the start time?? I only see TBD.
[Reply]
Harrison Merkin Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
@Trip, says 1PM EST
[Reply]
Trip Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@Harrison Merkin, you’re referring to this Sunday, if we lose tonight?
Harrison Merkin Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
@Harrison Merkin, Yes should the unthinkable happen it would appear that we are slated for a 10:00am start on Sunday. That IMO makes it all the more important to get it done tonight. Day games…not so good.
Trip Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
@Harrison Merkin, I seriously doubt that start time. I have not seen any professional sporting event start before noon. Doesnt make sense with the other games scheduled that day. Where did you see this?
Stuart Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@Trip, just last Sunday, the DET/NAS game started at 9am pst…
Trip Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
@Harrison Merkin, I’m referring to local start time.
Harrison Merkin Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
@Harrison Merkin, When I google LA Kings the schedule comes up that says 10AM. I’m not saying it’s correct but it’s possible.
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=LA+Kings&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Harrison Merkin Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
@Harrison Merkin, PS 1:00PM EST happens all the time.
Trip Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
@Harrison Merkin, I know we get games 9 and 10 am here but local start times are never before noon.
Trip Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
@Harrison Merkin, and Stuart…that game was at Detroit, noon start time.
Stuart Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@Trip, right, and this post started with talking about 1pm est which is 10am local pst time…right [laughs]
Harrison Merkin Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@Harrison Merkin, Local…? The game is Vancouver. Anyhow. Kill this thread. GO KINGS!!!!!!!
dodgervern Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
@Harrison Merkin, I am getting pretty amped myself but hope Kings play with the confidence they should have and put the Canuks out of their misery.If they skate hard all game and score first we will do it!!Oh yea,NO UNNESCESARRY penalties and watch out for the Canucks inevitable cheap shots as the go down the drain tonight!!GO KINGS,GO!!
[Reply]
off topic but RIP Dick Clark
[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
@pr0cess, that’s like off, off, off topic, but RIP nonetheless. An Icon.
[Reply]
chuckrocks Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
@pr0cess, RIP canucks, not as sad.
[Reply]
Barry Melrose:
“Fact: Daniel Sedin out. Quick standing on his head. Solution: There is no solution to Jonathan Quick. Vancouver, you’re done.”
[Reply]
Coma Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
@FiG17, link?
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FiG17 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
@Coma,
It’s on NHL’s home page… “Melrose Place” tab. It’s a corny little video, but that part made me chuckle.
[Reply]
Coma Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
@FiG17, ty GKG!
At the risk of overanalyzing everything and putting in my 2 cents worth for no reason here’s something i’m worried about: Everyone is talking about not letting up, coming out strong for this game, etc etc.. .I just worry about each player trying to do tooo much and getting out of their game. The phrase that keeps coming back to me is the Jim Fox one of “when everyone is good, no one person has to be great”.
That being said, if we win tonight, at home, i’m going to cry tears of joy. I’ve been really excited about Kings games in the past, I’ve yelled and screamed for joy because of the Kings, but I have only truly wept for them in the last few years only once thus far, and that was 2yrs ago watching my first Kings playoff game (which we lost to Van). I will cry if we win tonight.
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
@Shakes, watching my first playoff game = attending my first playoff game
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Harrison Merkin Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@Shakes, My first playoff game was at the GWF. Kings vs Flames. 12-4 W 3 hat tricks for the Kings. Grats, Taylor and Kudelski….it’s been down hill ever since. Although I was also at the Frenzy on Fig which was nice. Then again I was there…last year…I was th th there. Shake it off….
Do us proud boys!!!! GKG!! GKG!!! GKG!!!!
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
@Harrison Merkin, Went to that game myself. That was amazing. Calgary was a darn good team that year too … I think it was the year following their Cup?
Steven H Brown Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
@Harrison Merkin, Not Kudelski, but Tomas Sandstrom,Tony Granato & Dave Taylor, after the game Taylor apologized for needing 4 shots to get his hattie, Tony, and Tomas, both did it with only 3 shots that night! that series, ended with my favorite Kings Playoff goal of all time. Mike Krushelnisky’s face plant goal, that just got over Mike Vernon’s glove, an prompted Bob Miller to comment, that the man who scored the goal was the only person in the arena not to see it go in the net!
PRMan Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
@Harrison Merkin, I was at this game:
http://articles.latimes.com/1990-04-16/sports/sp-867_1_overtime-goal
Also, don’t know how I got there, but here’s some history on the LA Kings website:
http://kings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=64412
PRMan Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
@Harrison Merkin,
Also, the 2000s:
http://kings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=64413
The 1980s:
http://kings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=64410
The 1970s:
http://kings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=64409
The 1960s:
http://kings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=64408
Shotongoal Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
@Shakes, I think Sutter will have them focused in the right way to tonight. I expect them to come out very business like and take care of their duties. I don’t see them gripping sticks or trying to do too much.
[Reply]
IceGuy Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@Shotongoal,
Shot-
I really do agree with you on this point. This is business as usual. One game. I said way back last week, the Kings need to play team hockey. Be under control, and point and laugh at Burrows as often as possible. Gte into THEIR heads. Keep ours clear and focused.
We know the Nux are going to throw everything at us. We know they’re going to pick fights. We know they’re going to dive. The one thing I am worried about is they might target Quick. And if that happens, I will officially suspend my “play honest, clean hockey” stance.
The Refs had better inform BOTH benches that ANYTHING after the whistle near the goal is a sitting offense. Period. The first five minutes tonight will tell the officiating tale. The Refs had better establish their calling style right form the first drop, or it could get ugly. I really don’t want to see that. Let Vancouver do their worst.
The Kings have but one thing to remember when they step out onto Staples Ice tonight: PLAY SMART.
[Reply]
And Shannee being the Great Decider of what’s what has never set right with me.
[Reply]
Lake Forest Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
@Diego, In his defense you can’t make everyone happy. Some people will want more, some people will want less.
[Reply]
Diego Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@Lake Forest,
Agreed… Still I would rather see a well respected ref (if there is one) or a player that’s been retired for more time w/ less connection to current players.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
@Diego, I think he’s doing an excellent job, but not suspending Weber for at least 1 game was his low point. That was absurd.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
@KC23, +1
[Reply]
Here’s a nice behind the scenes pic of Daryl and Rich shooting today’s pregame segment: http://bit.ly/I6LAWj
And here’s Cliffy back at it today in case you missed it: http://youtu.be/g7bxOIs8EHs
[Reply]
SLIM Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Hammer is turning out to be
a real role player…Good on him..
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@SLIM …
There is depth to that man …
[Reply]
I’m still a bit miffed about Pahlsonn’s elbow to J Willies head! Sure it was a penalty but I would think the intent behind it would be attention-worthy..
[Reply]
twnclick Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
@iansez, finally someone validates how i felt about it also. Why should the nhl wait till someone is knocked out of a game before dealing with punishment.
[Reply]
Would think Torres might get anywhere 6 to 10 games and maybe more next year. Since the players are not getting payed anymore becasue it is the post season.
[Reply]
iansez Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@gene, Torres is the new Matt Cooke. Who incidentally rarely takes penalties any more..
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@iansez, Correct, and they’re both good hockey players.
I sympathize sometimes.
Coaches do this to guys.
Ultimately, the League must officiate and regulate to deter such thuggery. Not get caught up in the lust for violence and retribution they might be egged into by the paying public’s baser instincts.
Or else, they select thugs and totally risk the wellbeing of opponents and the rep’ of the NHL.
Case in point; Trevor Gillies, Torres, The useful hockey player formerly known as a criminal, Matt Cooke.
[Reply]
twnclick Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
@gene, Well if we end up playing Phx down the road at least he won’t be playing. Don’t think they can make it past Nashville thou
[Reply]
Steven H Brown Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
@twnclick, If all 3 pacific division teams win in this round, and SJS is not out of it, vs StL yet, Kings would play PHX in the next round, as they would be the top seed remaining in the West.
If that were to happen, and PHX goes 7 games against CHI, then even with a 10 game suspension, Torres would be eligible to play in game 7 of the 2nd round.
[Reply]
Shotongoal Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
@gene, I would not be surprised if he’s gone for the rest of the playoffs and first 10 games next season.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
@Shotongoal, Wouldn’t shock me either.
[Reply]
So Daniel is definely playing what is the leagues stance on transgingers playing in the nhl?
[Reply]
chuckrocks Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
@twnclick, awesome!
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
@twinchick,
So well done! Clap Clap Clap …
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Glad to know Kyle is skating…….
This is awesome news, our 4th line will be much better soon.
Richie will be better the Lotkionov.
Enough said on that item, lets keep it positive as we are on a roll.
[Reply]
twnclick Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@Harty, Nothing negative there Lokti is the future not the present. Just good he can fill in with few mistakes.
[Reply]
You want to Win Don’t You?
Go Kings Go
Enough Said
[Reply]
You want to Win Don’t You?
Go Kings Go
Enough Said
[Reply]
Howe 9 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
@Gail Web, You can sat that again.
[Reply]
Great News!Hope he can return soon
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The Flyers Penguins game will probably still be going when the Kings game starts, and if it goes to IT then we’re really screwed.
If you have an alternate way of watching the game aside from NBC Sports then get ready to go to plan B.
[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
@simonsez,
Glad to see I’m not the only one worried about this. How can I stream the CBC? Don’t answer that…
[Reply]
I think tonight richards and carter break through a score a couple,
[Reply]
Since we’re talking about what the officials aren’t seeing on the ice during these playoffs – how about Nashville’s obvious goal last night that was cancelled – for no reason other than the refs “lost sight of the puck.” What was even more disingenuous was that they never blew a whistle to stop play and – naturally – Detroit’s goal judge never turned the lamp on. Basically, Nashville put the puck in the net but the goal was disallowed because the refs never saw it go in. A simple look at the replay would have freed them from their own self-induced embarassment.
Let’s get it together NHL – You’re typically much better than this.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
@Like Wall, There is no such thing as any team’s goal judge. They are hired by the NHL and have nothing to do with any team.
[Reply]
Like Wall Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@KC23,
Ok then. They sucked too. It was a perfect opportunity to use replay – and they didn’t. Good thing Nashville won – and outplayed them as well.
[Reply]
twnclick Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Thats what scares me about tonight. That was obiviously a goal and it looked like they were trying to give detroit the win. But nash came back right away. Good for them.
[Reply]
twnclick Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
@Like Wall, The last two seasons they have been a total embaraasment and buttman is not doing anything that i can see
[Reply]
Diego Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
@Like Wall,
When the ref decides the play is over, it’s over. Doesn’t matter if the whistle blows before or after the puck crosses.
[Reply]
twnclick Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
@Diego, True but that was one fast whistle no matter how you look at it.
[Reply]
CL Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
@Diego, The good old “intent to blow” rule. There’s certainly been a lot of blowing by the black-and-whites of late, intentional or otherwise.
[Reply]
Like Wall Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
@Diego,
I sense none of you saw the play. You be the judge. Check around 6:50 mark of the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3NFjWHyfOo&feature=player_detailpage
[Reply]
Steven H Brown Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
@Like Wall, I lost sight of the puck, so I can believe that the referee did too, but in the current league that is goal starved, you would think that some people involved with the game would like to see this play result in a goal, rather than the puck being in the net, and the score remaining the same. I for one would like to see a change in the replay rules, that assumes that if the puck is in the net, that a goal has been scored and that the burden of proof for video, is not based on the call on the ice, but that something happened on the play, kicking high stick goaltender interference that disallows the goal. i would also like to see a change in the rules that says that just because goaltender interference was not called on the ice, does not make it a good goal, and that the video review can disallow a goal, when interference is detected on video, and not on ice. The job is difficult, and it does not take away from the authority of the on ice referee, to use video, to get a goal no goal call right.
Diego Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
@Like Wall,
I saw the play and I’m not disputing the quick whistle. I would wager that every team has been burned by these calls at one time or another, playoffs magnify it. IIWII… Can’t change the rule now, maybe they’ll look at it over the summer.
twnclick Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:26 pm
@Like Wall, The league is to busy fining coaches and players for whatever to pay for the phx team.
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Steven H Brown Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@twnclick, Fines do not wind up in league revenues, but rather in the NHLPA charity fund.
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My wife’s idea of punishment for the injury to Marian Hossa or Clifford is the offending team should have to play with a shortened bench for the entire time that player is not able to play. I thought about it,
and why not see what kind of opinions we can gather here.
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CL Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
@simiarnie, I think the focus needs to be more on the cause than the effect. You’re punishing the offender for what he did, not for what happened to the other guy. Sometimes a more egregious offense may not hurt a player as bad as a good hockey play, depending on other factors such as position on the ice, the receiving players’ balance and past injuries, and so on.
Also, I think someone mentioned in the comments here how tying the two together could really backfire. Say Sidney Crosby hits Westgarth and gets suspended as long as Westy is injured. Poor Westy would be “injured” forever, just so Crosby wouldn’t have a chance to play again. Why not sacrifice a “lesser” player if it knocks out the other team’s superstar?
In fact, some people seem to think that Tippett may have kept Smith out of practice and pre-game skate in order to influence Shanahan’s decision, which he knew would take severity of injury into account… Imagine how much more that system could be abused if length of punishment were tied more directly to length of injury.
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twnclick Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
@simiarnie, If nothing else they should be suspeneded until the injured player can come back that would be fair
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Michael J. Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
@simiarnie,
While the player is hurt, make the other team pay the injured player’s salary and count it against their cap.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
@Michael J., In essence a pretty neat idea.
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purple and gold Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@simiarnie, I was thinking similarly but, just have the player causing the injury sit until the injured is back, problem with both our scenarios is that if a top six player injures a bottom 3 I could see the bottom 3 staying injured a lot longer than he actually needs to, just to hurt the other team.
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The refs should divide the ice by 4 quarters and never take their eyes off of their assignment…that way they won’t miss a thing. the Clowe thing and this Hossa thing is a joke that there were 4 refs on the ice and no-one saw it. Just not good.
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purple and gold Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
@tellmeY, 2 of the guys on the ice are lines men and they can’t make penalty calls at all (as far as i understand). They are allowed to help determine the severity of the call ie a major vs a minor or double minor. So you only have 2 guys that can make the calls for either the clowe thing or the hossa incident. Its part of the reason fox questioned the major given to clifford for a hit earlier in the season when there was no whistle or penalty called and play was only stopped for retaliation. Fox postulated that a linesmen must of said something about the hit but fox didn’t like fact that cliffy got a penalty when no official call had been made by a ref at the time of the hit. sorry i cant remember who we were playing or who he it.
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Stuart Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
@purple and gold, and the linesman can call too many men… maybe even bench infractions? IDK for sure.
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My biggest issue with the Torres hit on Hossa last night is between the 1st and 2nd periods you have 2 officials and 2 linesman in the refs room on the phone with Toronto. With so much at stake in the playoffs and anybody with any sense knows a suspension is coming, wouldn’t it make sense for a league official after getting the advice and counsel from Toronto notify the guily player they can’t play the remainder of the game pending an official league inquiry.
As I watched last night you could see Torres start to play each shift looking over his shoulder. It made for a real awkward finish to the game every time he was out there. Detroit lost 77 points for 2+ periods and OT. Torres finishing the game in my opinion was real awkward.
Now of course this should only happen in the playoffs and for offenses that are over the top like we saw last night. We sit and watch the ref talk to Toronto over a puck crossing the line but a player gets carted off in a neck brace and stretcher and between periods we can’t have Toronto and the on ice officials discuss. Seems nuts.
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Steven H Brown Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@Peter, Hossa plays for Chicago, he was only in Detroit for one season. I think there is too much gray area, to implement the system you are calling for even in the playoffs. what makes more sense, is for Dave Tippet, the coyotes coach, to sit Torres for the remainder of the game, so that the Blackhawks don’t have reason to attempt to seek revenge before the end of the game. let’s commend the discipline of the Chicago players and coaching staff, for not sending a hit squad after Torres during the game.
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Peter Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
@Steven H Brown, Good point…did notice my typo after I submitted. Agree would be tough to implement but could you imagine the outrage today if Torres had scored the game winner in OT.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 18th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
@Steven H Brown, Unfortunately, the onus is on the on ice officials here.
If a coach would be ‘sporting’ enough to choose to sit a player, he wouldn’t have sent him out to do just what he did in the first place.
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I saw somewhere it was the same ref who missed the Clowe stick that “missed” the Torres hit. If true, this guy needs to sit out the rest of the year. Disgraceful. I wonder if they check for irregular betting patterns in Vegas? Actually, I know they do, I live here. Just making the point. Go Kings.
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