To the referees of last season's Rangers-Buffalo series, I apologize for all the names and expletives I used to describe you last year.
I stand absolutely corrected because today, for the second straight game a referee's decision has cost the Rangers the game — or to be more mild, a chance at overtime redemption.
The referees weren't so bad throughout the game until the last few minutes. With the Rangers on a power play, Fleury made the save but did not have the puck covered. In fact, it was clearly visible.
With Martin Straka of the Rangers poking away at the puck furiously, the puck started to slide towards the goal line. There it went, inching closer...closer...but then instead of a red light or a goal celebration, there was a whistle just as the puck crossed the goal line.
The goal was disallowed because the whistle clearly blew before the puck crossed line, but why was the whistle even blown? The puck was not covered. The Penguins would go on to kill the penalty, score an empty-net goal and win the game 2-0.
The Rangers did not have many chances; Fleury only had to make one difficult save. When the Rangers had one chance, the referees wiped it out.
As a side note: I'm impressed with Sidney Crosby's maturation overnight. He only embellished once and is getting closer to becoming a real hockey player.
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2 months ago
As a hockey official, I have a little bit of sympathy for referee Dan O'Halloran. While I agree that the quick whistle cost the Rangers a chance at forcing an OT (be honest, Fleury was pretty good in net) the call was the correct one to make. After watching 4 or 5 replays, the puck was clearly loose and the goal should have counted, but from O'Halloran's viewpoint, the puck was seemingly covered.
The rule states that at the time the referee decides to stop play, the moment he feels play is dead, is when play stops. This means that the play can be ruled dead BEFORE the whistle blows. I am a college hockey referee and I have had this happen to me several times. O'Halloran could not have known the puck was loose with all of the players in front of Fleury hacking and whacking. The puck was under Fleury for about 2 seconds, not covered, but out of the referee's sight. When the official loses sight of the puck, he has to assume it is covered to protect the goalie.
The Rangers were robbed, but not by the referee. They had their chances to tie the game, but both goalies stood on their head. Fleury was just better.
from 2 months ago
O'Halloran was behind the net though. The players in front of the net wouldn't impede him. If he wasn't in position to see the puck loose between Fluery's legs, then I believe he was out of position.
from 2 months ago
O'Halloran ended up behind the net, but when he blew the whistle, he was still at the side of the net.
2 months ago
Personally, I felt Fleury was untested.
2 months ago
the puck was never stopped
to defend that call you would have to be an idiot,I am not a Ranger fan (never have been one either).but i believe the league wants markets to win to grow league.so no better way than give the helping hand of officiating.so my prediction is the pens are that team this year
started with the no goal of Brett Hull and bettman running on ice to hand out cup to stars before west coast news shut down
Martin Gelinas goal to win series for Calgary (oh ya it was ruled inconclusive by league on review)the whole arm and glove were in net but because glove closed you could not see puck that he caught was in glove
rob neidawhinner pushing Hasek into net with puck frozen on him with a ref clearly in sight waving off goal but league review saids its ok to push netminder in with puck give california its only route to finals(Detroit would have made finals not duckies)
the league wants revenue growth so lets help teams win with market growth there,other teams will not complain their teams are worth more with this way
sounds like a ref up there make an argument to validate your lousy call.I love the way in football they turn over calls that are clearly wrong upon review,and its easy to say out of position and no one looks bad this was the tieing goal would have been a better game ,maybe same result but we will never know let the teams earn it
2 months ago
the ryan with the glasses above sounds like a typical lousy ref. defending at all costs a lousy call.your probably a homer ref too
puck was not under goaltender for 2 seconds it travelled under the keeper without ever stopping.
it was out of sight for the distance of travelling under keeper a distance of 3 feet or so it does not take 2 seconds for puck to travel 3 feet (NBA basketball can cover distance of court after a throw in and make a basket in less than 2 seconds)
under your not perfect vision get help from friend and go figure how slow a shot your arguement needs to make it right , 3 feet covered in 2 seconds and go tell puck shooter he is a pro athelete and his shot is that week
or just say it was a terrible call and ref should not be trying to determine game outcome.the pens are more than good enough to get there with out help of a BAD REF
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