From time to time, I’ll check in on opposing teams’ blogs and read what their fans have to say about certain things. I don’t troll and reply to comments I don’t like, I just observe. Following Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals was one of those times and I was shocked to see how many fans have been bitching about the alleged Hossa slash and how many picks the Red Wings are setting and not getting whistled on.
First of all, it’s the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. It’s hockey, not the NBA. It’s a physical game and as should be expected in the Finals, the refs have, for the most part, swallowed their whistles and let the two best teams do what they do best, and that’s play. In fact, excluding the penalties at the 19:41 mark of Game 2 (which, let’s be real, meant nothing at that point in the game) the Red Wings have been whistled for one more penalty than the Penguins. I don’t want to hear that the poor Penguins are saints and playing by the rules and the Red Wings are, wahhh, cheating.
Then there’s the alleged Marian Hossa slash on Pascal Dupuis where a no call led to a Red Wings goal and a 2-1 lead (a lead they would later extend to 3-1). Dupuis certainly cried about it, too. I think the clip below that plays over and over, and over and over, again clearly shows you that Dupuis actually slashed Hossa and that’s how he broke his stick. Hossa then commits the alleged illegal act everyone is whining about as he lifts his stick up underneath Dupuis’ hands and jars his stick completely loose. Hossa is then able to take control of the puck and put it on net that leads to the spectacular Flippula goal from a difficult angle. You can say the announcers are on the Penguins side, Dupuis was calling for a penalty, heck you can argue all you want, but the image that plays over and over again shows the truth. (H/T to Abel to Yzerman for this image)
Personally, even if Hossa got away with a slash or the Wings are setting unfair picks that should be whistled every time, I don’t care. As I said before, it’s the playoffs and I think both teams are getting away with stuff we don’t always see front and center on screen as the refs are letting the teams play.
Sack up, shut up, and play. Game 3 tonight.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
