Referee Assist Massive Loss
It’s not often someone can legitimately hassle the referees. Usually home team bias overlooks the mostly consistent and impartial refereeing. Tonight, one of the worst displays of officiating took place in thisyear’s NHL took place. The entire series may have been changed after Dan O’Halloran took it upon himself to call to bogus penalties against the Flames to give Chicago all the extra momentum they needed.
Disgusting. Personally, it’s more disappointing because I want to watch playoff hockey, not a pre-season game with dives and overzealous refs.
Chicago took it to the Flames in the first. Three first period goals thanks to PP momentum (and a PPG), a lucky bounce off the stantion, and good hussle to the net. Calgary couldn’t get their jets moving mostly because every time they started something they got a bogus penalty called.
Calgary needed to respond in the second early. They were spurred along by massive line changes from D to forward. The changes seemed to pay off thanks to a Adam Pardy move started by Sarich. Pardy was held on the boards–no call.
Chicago responded quickly though, and Miikka Kiprusoff let in a second easy goal, not a great showing by him. Chicago forwards were beating Calgary defencemen to the puck all night, Phaneuf costing us the fourth goal.
In came McElhinney. Dan O’Halloran called a high sticking penalty giving Calgary their first powerplay of the game. You could tell he didn’t want to call it but alas, it was two feet from his face there was no choice.
Chicago added yet another goal late in the period after blown coverage. That was after a lengthy series where Calgary could barely get out of the zone. Out coached, out worked, out classed in every respect now, and the brief PP they had was perhaps a detriment to the Flames effort.
The second most pathetic show of the game was the Flames effort. They were finished by the Blackhawks even though the refs had a huge part to do with it. But again, the Hawks did the work, not the refs.
As such, you have to at least attempt to put in an effort. Adam Pardy tried to respond to an Ben Eager hit on little Cammalleri. Eager drops the gloves and starts throwing them, no instigator, and he feels like a big man beating up a non fighter.
Flames response? none. They did have a 5v3 but Keenan has done zero coaching to hel pthe PP and the chances were a big FAIL. Dion Phaneuf did leave the game at the tail end after the Hawks headhunted him and caught him after he took a shot.
Calgary really gave nothing for Chicago to think of for Game Six. They folded the tent and looked like a team that could be pushed around. It’s a lame time to be a Flames fan, and baring miracle, the season is over.
Notes: Dan O’Halloran gave Chicago the extra push and they finished it off. Credit the the players on the Hawks for putting their heart on the ice, something Calgary forgot about. Regardless of how disgraceful a referee works you have to dig deeper, crash the net, and come up big. Maybe the Flames just plain suck…..Or maybe they’ll turn it around and push it to a game seven.
aaarrrrrgggg!
yea not even close.
We have to stand by our team not matter how bad they were tonight. I have to admit that Iggy was a complete non factor. Actually, after the refs changed the game in the first, Calgary was never the same after. Too bad…
My sentiments exactly. We still lack that huge forward that can skate and bang…. What we have is 12 forwards who have no clue what they’re doing beacuse they have new linemates every shift.
I have a bad feeling about this game now it is over. Tonight we looked like a team that can be intimidated. I wouldn’t have thought that possible before tonights game. I’m also completely surprised that this team failed to show up. In a way I’m not surprised since I watched them hand the Canucks the division title but still….
Not Kennan’s fault. He can’t control emotional level or lack thereof for 25 players. The PP has sucked for a few months … coaching or personnel? Sutter likes the grinders and hardnosed guys. Is Keenan responsible for the cap problems? Is that why this team hasn’t had an NHL backup goalie for years. This team has been awful on the road all year; lost the home ice in part because of horrendous bad management of the cap. What other major professional team has played with less than a full roster because of CAP ISSUES? That’s a disgrace and the beloved king Darryl is the one who should be fired. Now we have Jokinen for another year at $5.25 million. This team has nowhere to go but down for three years and D Sutter is not the guy to rebuild.
I think we have to consider the emotional level of the team as a result of the suspension to Andre Roy. Ofcourse they were not going to play physical because they knew it would not be in their favor to do so….. This is the National Hockey League and Stanley Cup battles but is there any sense in competing if all the plays are going to be biased? The Blackhawks know nothing is going to happen to them… They have support from up top.
The Calgary Flames are not to be blamed … when they show the fire power it works against them.
A true playoff contender does not let a team embarass them 5 to one. Further a true playoff contender does not allow a team to score 3 straight goals in a comeback re previous game in Calgary.
I’m sad, but I’ll still cheer for our one round and out in the playoffs Calgary Flames
Okay, I do support Canadian teams and wish them success, particularly because such rivalries are healthy and very good for hockey. But to lay such blame with referees is a bit silly. Keep your expectations in line with how your team has performed. Now, please look at my earlier posts and you will see what I was referring to…
Man Up: 1
Blinded Flames fans: 0
While Calgary wasn’t playing well last game at all, the refs were to blame for taking them out of the game early. Up until those questionable calls, the Flames were playing well. After the bad calls the Flames seemed to give up which is no excuse, but you can blame the refs for giving Chicago all the momentum they needed to win. Go Flames Go!!!
REFEREES DON’T DECIDE GAMES. PLAYERS DO.(PERIOD)
I totally disagree Del. The refs can easily influence a game. Not sure how you think they can’t. I’m not saying Calgary wasn’t to blame for not stepping up, but the refs did take them out of the game early. I’m not the only one that thinks this about last game.
I don’t really want to get into a p..ng match with you Flaming Moe and I admire your loyalty, but the players have to put out regardless of the referees mis-calls.
Who ? did you say gave up the game after the bad calls?
I’m not trying to get into a p**ng match with you either Del. All I’m saying is when you have to play against the refs, as well as the opposing team, and are constantly killing penalties and not playing 5 on 5 that can really take the wind out of a team and dramatically change the outcome of a game. As far as I’m concerned, our Flames won the Cup back in 2004 but didn’t because of another blown call by refs/video goal judge.
Our guys stopped playing the game after the first 10 mins in game 5 and are completely to blame for the rest of game. But I agree with the person who writes the articles that we comment on in the fact that the refs ruined any chance the Flames had to get any momentum going, after that they didn’t recover.
Del sees the light.
Flaming Foe does not.
Referree calls even out over the balance of the year. They do not decide Stanley Cup victors.
May be the referees dont, but someone above does!!
Have to admit, to this day I’m still dumb-founded by that no goal during the ’04 Stanley Cup…
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe it was ever officially reviewed at the time . The only reason we know it was in was that the TV networks did their own review, which of course wasn’t official.
Smelly, Smelly, Smelly.
I think the biggest harm to our game of hockey is Mr. Smiley Face Bettman
Bettman is a prick, and I think Man Up should go trolling in his own neck of the woods. This is a Calgary Flames forum, not a forum for some moron that thinks he knows hockey or Flame fans in general.
hey, the turning point in this Series occurred at 2 AM when they left the bar in Chicago Friday (SAT morning). Their performance was flatter than the beer they drank. Ask King or players and see the reaction. Got kicked off the FLAMES forum by the thought police for bringing this up! Believe it if you want or follow the rest of the sheep.