“Smokey, this is not ’Nam, this is bowling. There are rules.” – The Big Lebowski
Here’s the thing about officiating in the NHL: Everyone knows that the rules change once the playoffs start. And then the rules change again as those games get into the third period and overtime. It’s a foolish understanding, but it’s an understanding nonetheless.
So then here’s the thing that continues to be utterly mystifying: How is it possible that there is such rampant inconsistency in the calls? It’s gotten to the point this postseason where the officiating has undercut the idea of establishing the most level playing field possible, not by any virtue of bias, but just from arbitrary ineptitude.
There have been countless examples throughout the playoffs, but there was one late in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final on Thursday night that was especially disturbing. With all of the egregious infractions that were going on — especially in front of each net — referee Wes McCauley decided that this was interference on Dion Phaneuf.
Interference is a lot like holding in the NFL — it can be called on every play. But if we’re getting into what is actually interfering (and closer to unsportsmanlike conduct), how about the stick-pokes and water-bottle squeeze that Sidney Crosby dealt with in Game 6?
So the call on Phaneuf might be a by-the-book call, but no more than it would be embellishment on Phil Kessel, jumping in the air about as high as he possibly could to sell it. In the course of a playoff game, it should have been something laughed at and forgotten.
Instead, Justin Schultz scored on the Penguins’ power play and gave his team a 2-1 lead with just 8:12 remaining in regulation. If that stood as the game-winner, Phaneuf would have every right to make a stink. He also could have made the case that it was a call on reputation — he’s not exactly the most-liked player in the league, just ask Sean Avery. That’s a sentiment that Brendan Smith likely could have made as well during his run with the Rangers, seemingly getting called for at least one penalty every game on things that often seemed as if they would have gone unnoticed if done by another player.
Even though Phaneuf’s Senators managed to get the equalizer from Ryan Dzingel less than three minutes later, that power-play goal for Pittsburgh totally changed the tenor of the game. The Penguins held the play from there forward, eventually winning in double-overtime, sending them on to defend their Stanley Cup crown against the Predators in the final that starts Monday while Ottawa went home for the summer.
There really is a problem with the idea of the bifurcation of rules — to borrow a term from the golfing lexicon. To make the regular season and the postseason two totally separate games is troubling to general managers around the league. It’s like you have to build one team for the regular season, and then another for the playoffs. All the indications that you’re a good regular-season team don’t mean a whole lot come the postseason. For example, the Capitals have three Presidents Trophies in the past seven years while never making it out of the second round.
But if that is going to be the unwritten rule, as it has been for decades, then let it at least be consistent. I mean, this isn’t ’Nam.
Parsing (vulgar) words
The line is blurring between words that are offensive and words that are just vulgar. This distinction was made by the NHL when they decided just to fine the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf a cool $10,000 for using a word they deemed “demeaning and disrespectful.” Let’s say it had to do with a farm animal and suction. Last postseason, the league suspended Andrew Shaw for one postseason game after using a word that is directly derogatory toward gay men, a word they called “homophobic.”
The team at “You Can Play,” dedicated to equal rights in sports for the LGBT community, was confused by what might seem like a double-standard. But really, this an issue about language — and one that has no clear answer.
What is Doug Armstrong doing?
Another curious coaching move from the Blues’ general manager, as he hired Steve Ott right off the Montreal bench — or is that from the penalty box? — to be an assistant coach for Mike Yeo next season. Armstrong, with the help of assistant GM Martin Brodeur, spent last summer hiring Yeo to be an assistant and head-coach-in-waiting for headman Ken Hitchcock. Armstrong then fired Hitchcock prematurely in February while Yeo led the Blues to a second-round exit in the playoffs.
Strange stuff out in St. Louis.
New Jerseys
The NHL is changing jersey makers for next season, switching from Reebok to Adidas. In doing so, there will be one season without any alternate third jerseys — thank goodness. There is also a report that 12 teams are going to have slightly different looks for next season, including the Devils. Also, the Oilers are “promoting” their orange-based third jersey to be their regular home jersey.
Stay tuned …
. . . to the Stanley Cup final (duh!). The matchup starts Monday night in Pittsburgh, and despite all the yellow in the two jerseys, it should be a great series to watch. There are two big-time stars in Crosby and P.K. Subban, and two great atmospheres, as well, with very engaged fanbases right now.
Almost needless to say, bring the earplugs for Game 3 in Nashville on Saturday night. And get ready for many, many reaction shots of Carrie Underwood on NBC.
Parting shot
Seems like a pretty cool documentary the NHL has put together titled “Names on the Cup.” It airs Sunday night at 8 p.m. on NBCSN.