It has become a familiar site in recent years. The final horn blows. The Panthers lose a one-goal game. Olli Jokinen is irate and in the ref's faces. Jacques Martin is screaming at them as well from the bench. Some would say this is a familiar "excuse" where the Panthers pin the outcome on the world being against them. In the last few years, it would have made sense as the Panthers have been one of the most-penalized teams.

This year is different, and their opponent last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs, went into last night's game as the most penalized team in the NHL (now they are second). It is peculiar how the Panthers' reputation may have just lost them a game last night, while the Leafs should still be number one in penalties. The reason they are now second is because the whistles were put away at the worst times.

Leafs fans may think this is sour grapes, which it isn't, but they surely know they stole two points. The refs (Greg Kimmerly and Kelly Sutherland, who should be suspended) stole the integrity of the game.

In the first period, the Panthers dominated. Arguably the best-played period of the year, and it looked as if they would coast to their fourth consecutive win. But :26 into the second Sundin's shot bounced off the post and luckily right to Jason Blake who hit the open net to cut the lead in half. Blake and Toskala were outstanding all night.

The Panthers were outplayed the entire second period, and the third was a draw. Hal Gill and Chad Kilger started throwing their thuggish weight around, and it was clear the Panthers were hard pressed to match the hitting. But after Gill wasn't called for two consecutive penalties, the Panthers should have seen the writing on the wall. Gill held and body slammed Rostislav Olesz along the boards, and then punched Nathan Horton in the face. This prompted Horton to drop the gloves, which he called "defending himself." Sure both should have gone off for fighting, but only after Gill getting two for holding and/or roughing. There is no other way to look at this incident. Any other view is nonsense. And in both occasions, under the rules that have been around for ages, Gill should have been in the box. Welcome to Pantherland-no call on either.

The Panthers were also called for a too many men penalty, which was clear as day to be a clean change. The officials gave no explanation, because they didn't have one. Not one replay showed the guilty player(s). Another Hockey 101 call gone wrong.

And that's not the worst of it. With less than a minute to go, Jozef Stumpel fairly hit Ian White along the boards. There is no argument here. The ref was right there and did not make a call. Of course, this is one of the refs that blew calls all night, so take that how you wish. White took exception to the hit and dropped the gloves, while Stumpel did not. This is a penalty, and at very least should have been a stoppage in play. NEVER has this not been a penalty. The ref said they were both ready to go. Sure. Jozef Stumpel, since his rookie year in 1991, has dropped the gloves one time. Stumpel said he thought they had just been given the gift of a power play because this is always a penalty. Of course, no call.

Jay Bouwmeester missed the potential game-winner from a tough angle while all this was going on. The Leafs gained possession and went down the ice for what would be the deciding goal, again on an unlucky bounce.

On that play, Stumpel was extremely tired after prying White off of him and trying to get to the bench. He was stunned a penalty was not called and that play was permitted to continue. For a few seconds the Panthers were down a man while he was trying to get off the ice, causing the coverage problem that led to Antropov being wide open to put the winner home.

Are refs perfect? Of course not. Are the bad/no-calls in every game? Almost always. Hockey refs know they are some of the most hated in sports, so shouldn't they relish the opportunity to get the plain-as-day, right-in-front-of-them calls right? They can't possibly get a call such as this wrong, can they? No one with a brain could mess this up! Oh wait, Kimmerly and Sutherland can. They need a much-needed permanent vacation, three weeks into the season.

There is no doubt the Panthers have not achieved any success in recent years to receive the benefit of the doubt very often. But when the officials, not the players, decide when the rules shall be applied, it is completely and totally unacceptable. An otherwise hard-fought and up-and-down game between both teams was trivialized by referee ineptitude. Truly a shame.

Whether it is the Panthers or any other team in the NHL, calls like this, or lack thereof, are abominable.

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