Canadiens Jobbed by Poor Officiating

[RGM81]

Last night, with 5:52 remaining in the third period, the Canadiens scored a goal to tie the game 3-3. The puck was loose in a goal-mouth scramble, and Scott Gomez pushed it over the line. The red light came on, the crowd roared with cheers.

But wait! Enter Chris Lee.

The last time a referee called for the end of a play in Montreal that quickly, Bret Hart punched Vince McMahon in the face.

At some point the NHL must re-visit the way it handles video replay with regards to the timing of a puck crossing the line, the referee blowing his whistle, and a loose puck. If a puck is loose and the referee is out of position, thus unable to make the correct call, why should the call stand? What is the point of investing in all this technology, having all these cameras at all angles of the ice, of having a "war room" in Toronto where League officials can review a play in order to make sure that the correct call is made, if all of it can be overturned by what the League casually refers to as "human judgment"? Why bother with this idea of "getting the call right" if the ability to overturn the wrong call in such circumstances is flatly denied?

Far too often this season we have seen the wrong call. Brad May was denied a goal on a play that was so blatantly obvious it hurts. Goals have been scored when play has continued after a puck has hitting the netting above the glass. So-called "quick whistles" have denied good goals. Even whistles that you don't hear until after the puck is in the net have denied ostensibly good goals, because if the ref intended to blow the whistle that's good enough. There is something evidently wrong with the way the referees are calling games in the NHL.

The NHL also needs to introduce a public accountability system for its officials. Two years ago, NFL referee Ed Hochuli horribly botched a call that affected the outcome of a game. Read the details here. Hochuli admitted his mistake and the NFL held him accountable, downgrading his referee status and making him ineligible to officiate playoff games that season. Hochuli is one of the NFL's most well-known and -respected referees, a 20-year veteran that has worked a pair of Super Bowls. But he was admittedly in the wrong on that play, and the League made sure that he was disciplined for the error. At this time, no such system exists in the NHL. Players and coaches are under threat of a severe fine if they in any way, shape, or form criticize officials for their work. The League does not discuss mistakes that are made on the ice. If the referees are taken to task, we do not hear about it. This must change, for the integrity of the game.

[zunato]

No Pro league will ever admit that a Referee or umpire made a bad call. In the Hochuli case he came out and said he made the wrong call. I'm sure he was "demoted" beacuse he made the NFL look bad. If he had not said anything the NFL would not have done anything to him.

Human error is part of any game.

[Dergula]

Happened to the Leafs twice this season. We are used to bad officating. But when we complain about it we get called whiners. Go figure.

[RGM81]

Happened to the Leafs twice this season. We are used to bad officating. But when we complain about it we get called whiners. Go figure.

I'm sure I'll be getting my fair share. :)

[30ranfordfan]

First off, I love the Wrestling reference.

But, a point I feel I need to make...... Richard, you couldn't be anymore wrong.

The last time a referee called for the end of a play in Montreal that quickly, was on September 13th, at 'Breaking Point'. (When CM Punk defeated The Undertaker)

[RGM81]

LOL You'll have to forgive me for that error - I haven't watched since about 2001.
Are they still doing the "Montreal Screwjob" finish whenever they're in Canada?

[30ranfordfan]

I'll send you a PM, instead of making this thread anymore off topic :)

LOL You'll have to forgive me for that error - I haven't watched since about 2001.
Are they still doing the "Montreal Screwjob" finish whenever they're in Canada?

[Brodeur_fan666]

Happened to the Leafs twice this season. We are used to bad officating. But when we complain about it we get called whiners. Go figure.

Like you said , it happened to many teams this year.

Is the referee the reason Mtl was dominated 41-21 on shots total ?

No.

[TEAMREEF]

id say 9/10 times it seems like my team (vancouver) gets the shaft on these types of calls too. i hate it when the pucks in the whistle comes after but the ref says he intended on blowing the whistle a second before that so now its no goal. however it seems like luongo also took a goal away from evander kane because you could not see the puck over the line even though most likely it was in. point being it usually balences out. it is alot easier to remember the calls that go against our fav team than the ones that do.and rgm Vince didnt screw bret......bret screwed bret lol a loogie and knocking vince out was small consolation im sure but watching mcmahon struggle to walk out of brets dressing room that night on the wreslting with shadows dvd( which is quite awesome i might say ) still cracks me up

[senrab]

It's called CBO