The Penalty Box

Since my latest entries and pretty much all the media attention has been about the Penguins – Capitals big series, this will be the only mention of this matchup in today’s blog. Now onto the other Eastern Conference Semi-final matchup as the series shifts to ruckus Raleigh tied 1-1, I believe we have found the unheralded playoff performer in this series. Chad LaRose, who did have career high 19 goals in the regular season, has followed it with a big game performance in the playoffs (8 points). This unrestricted free agent to be has made some money for himself as an energy second to third line player that can kill penalties and play some power play. His relentless pressure on the penalty kill was a huge part of the Hurricanes winning Game 2 and getting back into the series. This one time 61 goal scorer in the OHL has come onto the scene and stepped up in big spots for the Hurricanes.

Another big topic around the hockey world has to do with the financial troubles of the Phoenix Coyotes. The league wants to keep this team in an American market and has made that clear by holding up Jim Balsillie's $212.5 million offer to save the team finances, because Balsillie’s offer is on the condition that the team relocates to southern Ontario. The legal battle will now resume as the Blackberry king who has been nothing but persistent to move an American team to Canada will have his day in court; watch out this will get messy. The team cracked the top 20 in attendance only once in the last eight years and has been ranked 29th four times in that eight year span. This team needs a change, but I would be more interested in seeing this team move to Kansas City, where they already have a new arena, or even Las Vegas, where someday a professional team will be located. I say why not be innovative and jump the gun before the NBA, if your prerogative is to keep the team in the US to keep the TV market then take a risk with the sin city.

Finally my penalty box has been empty lately and then referee Brad Watson goes and ruins a great playoff game. With 1:09 remaining in the game, Marian Hossa seemed to have tied the game on a beautiful diving goal in front, but the idiot Brad Watson decided to blow the play dead with the puck just sitting in plain site for all to see, except for him. This was the explanation given by NHL’s E.J. McGuire, series manager and spokesman for officials:, “On a replay, it’s easy to make the correct call. The official was down along the goal line. He was moving forward toward the net to try to get a look at where the puck was. When he couldn't see the puck, all referees' instructions are to blow the whistle and blow the play dead. A combination of the black puck and the black pants may have been a factor. But when he didn't see the puck, he blew the whistle.” My question to him and the officials committee was why he was so quick to blow the whistle, I have watched the play over and over again; slow, fast, forward and back, and I still don’t see why he blew the whistle. He was on the side of the net when he blew it, and I know the turnover by Niedermayer happen so quickly, but why didn’t he wait until he could see the play from his normal position behind the net, a place he also would of seen the puck in clear site not covered. This was an awful call and Brad Watson deserves to be put in my penalty box.