… I don’t have a recap for the Ducks game, but I will say a few things about it. First, Anaheim outplayed Detroit yesterday. The Wings looked exactly like a team that had played the day before and they were fortunate to keep it close. That said, the Ducks got some huge breaks.
The non-call on a clear case of goaltender interference by Kunitz was just one example. The incessant interference on Detroit forwards skating into the zone was another. The Samuelsson diving call was one more.
The biggest break, however, came with 40.7 seconds left.
I’m a firm believer in the idea that profanity should only be used sparingly and in times of extreme emotion. Otherwise it loses its shock value. I’ve been pissed off enough before to use language I would otherwise not use on this site, but I have so far refrained from doing so. Not this time, however.
I’m in frank agreement with the fans at Joe Louis Arena: Dan O’Halleran’s call on Nick Lidstrom’s goal was bullshit.
That’s all I have to say about that. Read the post and comments at Abel to Yzerman if you want more. George Malik’s essay-like comment is particularly worth a read.
… As if a three-game losing streak wasn’t bad enough, more bad news has come: Dominik Hasek has an inflammed hip flexor and is day-to-day.
Bruce MacLeod reports that the team claims Dom’s new status is strictly precautionary and that he could return as soon as Sunday’s road game against the Stars.
This is certainly no time to panic, as the Wings still have a league leader who can take over the reigns once again: Chris Osgood. Obviously, a healthy Dom is preferable over an injured one, but there’s no need to rush him back. The key thing is that he be healthy for the playoffs.
In Hasek’s absence, Jimmy Howard will take the team’s backup role. To make room for him, Niklas Kronwall has been placed on the IR.
Dan O’Halleran’s call on Nick Lidstrom’s goal was bullshit.
No argument here. Worst call of the night by a country mile. If they call Homer on that slight contact, they should probably take away half the goals Anaheim has scored this year.
Still, two things prevent me from getting too overboard on this call: (a) the Ducks need the points, and Detroit doesn’t, so in terms of standings effect, it’s not going to cripple either of these teams. (b) I did catch the COL-DET game last week, and DET definitely caught a break in that one for another b.s. disallowed Avs goal.
If there were any justice, the Ducks will have a big goal disallowed tomorrow against Colorado, then the circle would be complete.
So sorry, Detroit fans. But as they say, not that sorry.
I wouldn’t be either if I was a ducks fan. Detroit was screwed, but I’m over it, it’s not a playoff game.
What I find hilarious is that this was allowed
http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/02/problem-in-shootout.html
but the lidstrom goal wasn’t.
Oh well. Bring on nashville.
It was a pretty borderline call, but when I look at the screenshot of the goal and read “Rule 78: Protection of Goalkeeper,” I can see why it might have been called:
http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/A2Y/comments/screwed/
(see comment: Ryan from Syracuse, NY on 02/10 at 06:54 PM)
It’s hilarious there were soo many comments about “Gary” being an “ass” on A2Y when, last I checked, Dan O’Halleran made the call. That’s the type of knee-jerk reactions I hate about certain hockey fans who jump all over Bettman whenever things don’t go their way. He deserves it sometimes, but it’s not Gary’s fault if you have a bad day, people. And let’s all be clear, the players and GM’s meet about the rules every summer, and they could address this rule if they chose to.