Playoffs. Amount of games and Refs

[BF4L]

I have found these playoffs to be some extremely entertaining hockey. I am obviously a Bruins fan but I have been up until 1AM every night watching the west coast games as well.

I do not recall such a competitive playoff as this season so I ask. Reduce the regular season?

Refs. They all basically suck. It is so inconsistent that it totally distracts me from the game. I am not only talking about Bruins games but all games in general.

Thoughts?

 

[puckhead]

reduce reg season = reducing revenue. ergo will never happen unless it's offset by expansion

refs suck. absolutely agree. it has crossed the line from incompetence to corruption in more than a few instances this season.
there is absolutely zero accountability. that has to change, but I don't see how

 

[sbb122]

The officiating has been brutal. Not just the penalties but the missed offsides, icings, quick whistles as well.

 

[quoipourquoi]

Referees: All I want is consistency.

A. Call everything.
B. Call nothing.
C. Call everything in regulation and call nothing in overtime.

Just pick one and do it in every game, instead of having everyone guessing what will or will not be allowed.

 

[Destroydacre]

I agree, reduced regular season should happen. IMO they should reduce the regular season by 20 games, but if that's too drastic then 10. I'd try to come up with some kind of scheme (ie so many divisional games, so many conference games etc) but with the upcoming uneven division alignment, I'm not even gonna try.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

Refs. They all basically suck. It is so inconsistent that it totally distracts me from the game. I am not only talking about Bruins games but all games in general.

Thoughts?

It seems we've heard this before...

Oh yeah. Every year.

These guys are basically the best in the world, doing the best they can. Until we completely eliminate the human element, they will always be... well.. human, and that comes with inherent flaws we just need to accept.

Who shall we bring in instead? Look what happened to the NFL when they brought in the replacement refs? Horrific.

I'm starting to think that it's OUR (fans) expectations of the human element that are unrealistic?
Otherwise, why is this a perpetual discussion?
We'll have the same thread next year, and the next, and the next...

my $.02

 

[pixburgher66]

I kinda agree with Biz on the refs. Unless they allow review or something (please GOD no...), it's not gonna get better. Obviously I'd like some consistency, but it's a job I'd be terrible at doing. They're under an extreme amount of pressure. Everything they do is critiqued by 20k+ in a building. They know the rules better than any fan, and I highly doubt there's any real corruption from their end.

On the number of games: I completely agree with the group. Drop the number. This is what a fresh legged group of teams looks like in the postseason. Just some great games.

 

[pixburgher66]

What I reallllly don't like is the amount of scheduled back to backs. I get that the arena schedule has a lot to do with it, but scheduling game 6-7 b2b is just wrong. Pens would've had to if it went 7; Caps/Rags are scheduled to, along with B's/Leafs. I suppose all those teams are close enough to each other, but man..

 

[Darkstone42]

For the refs, I think it would make a big difference if the rulebook were written better. Removing some of the subjectivity would go a long way (as would removing some of the stupid rules).

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

What I reallllly don't like is the amount of scheduled back to backs. I get that the arena schedule has a lot to do with it, but scheduling game 6-7 b2b is just wrong. Pens would've had to if it went 7; Caps/Rags are scheduled to, along with B's/Leafs. I suppose all those teams are close enough to each other, but man..

That's pretty common for game 7. I think it's really more to do with the league saying that they need to get finished up so we can move on to round 2.

 

[higgyfan4]

The Cup clinching game will be decided on a delay of game penalty call, I can see it now.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

The Cup clinching game will be decided on a delay of game penalty call, I can see it now.

You know, honestly, I wouldn't be bothered by that...assuming at least that they got the call right (i.e., wasn't tipped or hit the glass)

Sure it's a dumb penalty sometimes, but it's a complete black & white penalty. No subjectivity, no will he/won't he call it at this point in the game?, etc.

I'm more worried about it being decided based on a weak holding/tripping/hooking call when Dustin Brown takes a dive.

 

[awaz]

I kinda agree with Biz on the refs. Unless they allow review or something (please GOD no...), it's not gonna get better. Obviously I'd like some consistency, but it's a job I'd be terrible at doing. They're under an extreme amount of pressure. Everything they do is critiqued by 20k+ in a building. They know the rules better than any fan, and I highly doubt there's any real corruption from their end.

On the number of games: I completely agree with the group. Drop the number. This is what a fresh legged group of teams looks like in the postseason. Just some great games.

a pens fan would say that

 

[mattola]

 

[dash]

I would add that nowhere in the rule book does it say that penalties need to be evened up over a game or a series for that matter. If one team is clearly outplaying the other or one team is being undisciplined and taking dumb penalties, they will likely end up with the lion's share of penalties.

Of course, that kind of thinking doesn't seem to fly too well out here in Vancouver

 

[mattola]

I would add that nowhere in the rule book does it say that penalties need to be evened up over a game or a series for that matter. If one team is clearly outplaying the other or one team is being undisciplined and taking dumb penalties, they will likely end up with the lion's share of penalties.

Of course, that kind of thinking doesn't seem to fly too well out here in Vancouver

easy to laugh at the canucks in that sense I agree. but Its everywhere. if you or anyone else doesn't see how the NHL massages games and officiating maybe you are just not wanting to see it. How did that game 6 non call go for Calgary in the Finals? How did that Game 6 Non call go for Buffalo in the Finals? those were 2 blatant non calls that could and should have been reviewed by head office. I also remember Kerry Fraser in his article on TSN commenting on how make up calls do get called. to listen to the game in Toronto last night by Jim Hughson on how the refs put their whistles way late in the game is laughable they should NEVER put their whistles away. is that not game management in its definition they choose NOT to call blatant penalties because they are letting the players decided. well they sure decided to decide game 4 vs San Jose in OT and late in the 3rd period. How come you do not let them decide then? but it was ok last night?

game management....

 

[dash]

I can't disagree that there is game management in 3rd periods of regular season hockey games because I've seen it too often. All I want is consistency throughout the game and it shouldn't matter if it's a regular season or playoff game.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

refereeing is brutal ... heard it said by numerous "experts" that the NHL knew it didnt have the "inventory" of good referees capable of officiating games in the first round with all the games going on nightly and spread out across north america




/... if the NHL doesnt think it has enough good officials for playoff games, what does that say about the regular season when you have all 30 teams playing some nights

 

[dash]

Definitely the most upset I have been over an official's performance has to be the Canada - USA women's soccer game at the 2012 Olympics in London. Just bizarre decision making throughout the entire match.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Definitely the most upset I have been over an official's performance has to be the Canada - USA women's soccer game at the 2012 Olympics in London. Just bizarre decision making throughout the entire match.

Ugh, that one was horrible.

I felt like the US women should have refused their medals after that atrocity.