So one thing in last night’s fucking embarrassing outing has really stuck with me and I feel that the only constructive thing to do at this point is getting it off my chest as opposed to going postal…
To set the stage, let’s just agree that last night was a pretty weird game. It was weird because we came out looking like a team comprised of an all star goalie and 21 players who suck at rec leagues. It was weird because it was short, for example there were no, NO penalties in the entire first period. It was weird because even with us sucking and Portland rocking, we were still only tied 1-1 well into the latter part of the 3rd.
But one thing has me really pissed off and it is tied to something that has pissed me off all season: inconsistent officiating. We’ve seen some bizarre, inconsistent calls this year. I would argue that just as coaching has gotten progressively better in the WHL, the officiating has become more inconsistent. It’s not about “good” calls or “bad” calls, it’s about not being able to play (or watch) a game without worrying that every random poke check or embellished flop is going to result in a penalty or not.
But then, on top of inconsistent officiating, last night I saw something that I can’t explain or accept. Trailing 2-1 with less than a minute to go in the game and just after Portland had killed off a late penalty, the Chiefs send out their top line and Portland does the same. Faceoff in the offensive zone, goalie’s left. When the Portland players come out, an extra defensemen stayed on so that portland had 6 players out.
Before the puck drops, the referee nearest the goal blows the whistle, and notifies the extra Portland player that he’s the sixth out and to go back to the bench. The sixth man skates off, while we all wait, and then play resumes.
Really? REALLY?!
So now we’re going to warn players when they’re about to commit a penalty and advise them as to how to avoid it? Why bother having a too many men penalty if it’s subject to a warning? Can you argue if you get called for such a penalty that you weren’t warned first?
Am I the only one who is pissed off about this? Did anybody else see it? The crowd seemed to notice, but not much…
