Agreed. BTW, where is our resident ref to weigh in on this?

Habtastic

AB Habman wrote:

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 Guys, my thinking on the Koivu shove is because he skated through the crease and it's the goalies territory. I'm thinking anyways.

 The Downey hit looked legal to me.

 The refs certainly made up for it in the second. Some borderline calls against the Flames. I love how Carb is verbal. He won't let the refs get away with anything and it helped our team in the second.

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AB you might be right about Downey, but the Kovalev-Kiprusoff situation was DEFINITELY a penalty, and the extra call on the second fracas in the first, as well as where Iginla should have got the extra 2....there have been tons of missed calls tonight. Much more than usual.

But anyway, can't expect the refs to get it right always. Bottom line is it's been a fairly chaotic and chippy game. Mistakes by both teams, often caused by the forecheck and the fact that everyone's skating and hitting. This is good hockey.

MC Girl wrote:

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& what about the high stick to Johnson in the 3rd? .... No call & it was right in front of the ref...again

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 MC, that one was a blatent miss call with the ref looking right at it.

 I guess I'm not saying the refs were perfect or even good. Just trying to rationalize the two main non-calls...Kovy and Downey.

 I'm not sure how to view the Kovy-Kip thing. Kovy did skate throught the crease and was shoved from the crease out. I looked at this again also. Still though, Kip interferred with Kovy. Maybe that could of been called. I don't know????

Nil d wrote:

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AB Habman wrote:

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 I'm not sure how to view the Kovy-Kip thing. Kovy did skate throught the crease and was shoved from the crease out. I looked at this again also. Still though, Kip interferred with Kovy. Maybe that could of been called. I don't know????

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AB is starting to crack......................

 

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I stand by the Downey non-call. Not sure how to interpret the Kovy one?

So once again the refs are out to get the Montreal Canadiens..I intercepted this memo form the head of officiating:

 

Memo to All Referees

Guys, it has to be made clear that you have not yet reached your quota in the "get the habs contest". In my August memo I thought I clearly defined the parameters of this contest. A) Purposely ignore infractions by the other teams, no matter how blatant B) Dream up calls so that you can put the habs down a man, especially if they happen to be leading C)Watch the momentum closely and if it begins to swing in the habs' favour, dream up some more calls. I trust that you will do a better job in this regard as the trip to Vegas is up for grabs. On a positive note, I felt that the 2 officials in the Sabres/Habs game did an excellant job. After forgetting about the contest and calling 7 consecutive 3rd period minors on the Sabres, you recovered quite nicely and dreamt up a couple against the habs, thus allowing the Sabres to win in a shootout. Great job guys!

Sarcasmn aside folks, I know we are all emotional about our team and we seem to feel that all teh calls go against us. I think it is the fact that I have coached so long that it allows me to look at it in a less emotional light. In all the years I have coached, I have seldom felt that the refs were purposely out to get me or my team. My experience has been that it all evens out over the course of the season. Take teh Sabres game for example. Buffalo fans got to the point that they felt the officiating was so bad they were throwing stuff on the ice (after 6 or 7 consecutive penalties). Instead, after the game, all we talk about were the 2 calls against Montreal in the closing minutes.

The hit on Downey was unfortunate. but not cheap nor dirty. At the best, a 2 minute interference penalty. But Reigher was in full stride and if you have played the game you know how hard it is to say "oops he does not have the puck anymore I better stop". As I said in another post, Downey would have done the same and we would have called him a hero.

 

Ando wrote:

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...gang...a borderline hit from a very opportunistic player!

Both he and Phaneuf are the 'new' Scott Stevens.....who was the King of intentionally preying on guys who were off balance or at the end of a shift!!!  These headhunters all get theirs!!!

And-o still can't believe that there is no mention of Souray's PK slapper right at Phaneuf's head (during the Habs last PK)!  Atta boy Shelley!

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Well put And-O. The bottom line is that Downey, or Murray, or Begin, Or Rivet or the Cube would have done the exact same thing given the opportunity. And we would all be talking about what a clean hit it was. Downey had his head down and, as you said, a very opportunistic hit. Regher at least did not have his elbow up, had he done that Downey would be much worse off. What goes around, comes around and Regher will get laid out sometime.

MC Girl wrote:

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I think the overall point is.. the officiatin' sucked "all around"... the ref's just SUCK!!!

There were many "missed calls" last night.... & many BS calls too. I watch hockey whenever it's on (not just the Habs) & yes... these bad calls happen in every single game, not just ~vs~ the Habs. That still doesn't take away from the fact that there were many missed calls in our game, at least twice last night we should have been a man up, & yet we end up shorthanded?....

yeah that'll piss off any fan... no matter what team, league or sport.

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Hey I agree Missy! It sucks. It is clear to me that the officiating has not kept up with the play and the addition of another zebra has done nothing except clutter up the ice more! I guess my point is that it is pretty much even both ways. For example. Look at the first Bonk goal. Phaneuf was obviously interfered with and knocked down, which is what allwed Bonk the breakaway. At times one is left to wonder how thes eguys can miss something right in fornt of their faces.

I agree, AB-HAB. Seeing Carbo get into the game and voice his displeasure is a most welcomed sight after that stoic statue Bob Gainey last year. Carbo's got the look and presence of a great coach. I hope he wins as many Cups as Toe Blake and Scotty Bowman put together ...

Les Canadiens sont la

heet_150 wrote:

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barry33 wrote:

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So once again the refs are out to get the Montreal Canadiens..I intercepted this memo form the head of officiating:

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Barry, the officiating blew both ways (actually, they showed the amazing ability to suck and blow at the same time).  They were calling everything except the real penalties.  I am pretty sure that neither dressing room was happy with the 'stripes' effort last night.

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No It was pretty pathetic. The worst past is there seems to be no accountability for these guys. If you and I stunk that bad at our jobs we would be unemployed. But as I said, we get our share of calls that go for us as well and, all in all, if you were to look at it realistically, it evens out.