The refs saw a cross check in the midst of a hard fought game 7, there was a player on the ice bleeding... what did you expect them to call?
The call was fine, not calling a time out after the second goal was criminal.
- OrrFour

I expect then to be watching the faceoff because there is nothing else to watch and OBSERVE the crosscheck was to the chest not the head/neck area. In addition their arms did not go up signaling a penalty after the hit. They discussed after seeing pavelski on the ice and simply guessed. Inexcusable reffing but there is alot of that in the NHL.

They actually do not have just a split second to make the call. They have a split second to blow a whistle...they actually all conferred for some time discussing the penalty; big difference
- nikel

that is correct...the first look was no penalty...no arms raised and that was the right one...

completely disagree with you Paul...

eakins crosscheck was not malicious and how do you get into the mind of the player to determine he was responding to losing the draw.

Neither ref had his arm raised to call a penalty. It was clearly outcome based or they just guessed. No excuse for not seeing that it was to the chest and not the head or neck area.

In the cap/cane game last night I counted 4 post faceoff crosschecks and no call. The refs in that game refused to call a penalty in the 3rd or OT; certainly not for lack one. They missed obvious DOG penalty on the caps and then nailed the canes with a similar DOG.

Officials need to make the call on incident not the outcome. It was the wrong call and one of the worst in playoff history.
- bogiedoc

get real kid you're telling me the cross check was to get rid of a bee on Pavelski's upper body?

I'm a Sharks fan and I say the major was excessive but you know what? .........IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO A BETTER TEAM.

The refs saw a cross check in the midst of a hard fought game 7, there was a player on the ice bleeding... what did you expect them to call?
The call was fine, not calling a time out after the second goal was criminal.
- OrrFour

Never forget Rafi Torres taking a running jump at Marian Hossa (who had the puck), and all 4 officials (including the current Director of officiating Stephon Walcom) said they didn't see it so no penalty, even after watching Hossa carted off in a stretcher on his way to the hospital.

That being said I just don't understand why penalties during the regular season are not penalties in the playoffs. The officials DO affect the game if they do not call penaites just as much as more so than when they do. Also, if the officials put their whistles in the pocket, the players think they can get away with anything, so more liberties are taken.

So Paul, now that the league came out and admitted that the refs were in error, will that entire crew not be assigned to any more series? If they are, what is the reasoning?

Sorry Stewie. This does not wash. That type of crosscheck literally goes uncalled every single game. It was called this time because the incidental contact with Stastny caused Pavelski to fall awkwardly and hit his head on the ice. Couple that with the fact that the explanation to the Knights coach was that Eakins stick made contact with Pavelskis face and their is going to be problems because that was an utterly false claim. But with all of that being said, the PK and the Knights imploded. It was a horrendous call. If you were unbiased you could admit that.

Sorry Stewie. This does not wash. That type of crosscheck literally goes uncalled every single game. It was called this time because the incidental contact with Stastny caused Pavelski to fall awkwardly and hit his head on the ice. Couple that with the fact that the explanation to the Knights coach was that Eakins stick made contact with Pavelskis face and their is going to be problems because that was an utterly false claim. But with all of that being said, the PK and the Knights imploded. It was a horrendous call. If you were unbiased you could admit that.
- PittsPens

you just recently started watching hockey what do you know

There are dozens of worse cross checks in every single game

The National Hockey League has apologized to the Vegas Golden Knights for an incorrect major penalty call that opened the door for a four-goal San Jose Sharks rally and eventual victory in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.

"The league did reach out and apologize," general manager George McPhee said Thursday in Las Vegas.



Nice call, Paul

There are dozens of worse cross checks in every single game
- Njuice

Well yes there is, some are called and some are not.

The National Hockey League has apologized to the Vegas Golden Knights for an incorrect major penalty call that opened the door for a four-goal San Jose Sharks rally and eventual victory in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.

"The league did reach out and apologize," general manager George McPhee said Thursday in Las Vegas.



Nice call, Paul
- KINGKENZO

What's your point here, refs are human and make mistakes? Stewart has an opinion and gives an explanation from his considerable amount of experience as to what could have been the reasoning behind the thought process.

What's your point here, refs are human and make mistakes? Stewart has an opinion and gives an explanation from his considerable amount of experience as to what could have been the reasoning behind the thought process.
- Makita

You should read through the thread and youll know exactly what my point is.....he is an actual ref and his justification for the validity of the abomination is purely lip service to stand by his brethren.

Gallant mocking the refs in Game 5 with his thumb ups after the 2 min high sticking that should have been 4 min, cost him in Game 7. That's not working the refs that just asking for revenge.

You should read through the thread and youll know exactly what my point is.....he is an actual ref and his justification for the validity of the abomination is purely lip service to stand by his brethren.
- KINGKENZO

the hockey gods are just punishing Vegas for getting bs expansion draft rules

You should read through the thread and youll know exactly what my point is.....he is an actual ref and his justification for the validity of the abomination is purely lip service to stand by his brethren.
- KINGKENZO

Actually I did read the blog and all the posts, even deleted some.

It doesn't matter what his status is today, I watched the game, watched the infraction and I can understand where his thought process is coming from. You don't agree but it doesn't give you the right to act out and get all hot and bothered.

Try being a bit calmer and civil, posting in anger will take years off your life, or so I've heard..

the hockey gods are just punishing Vegas for getting bs expansion draft rules
- 2Real

Im sure No Show Joe is doing just fine now since youve been by his bedside the entire time

The entire issue is, if Pavelski gets up from that hit, there is nothing called. So, if a call is made based on injury, why are any penalties called, when no injuries happen? Either a play is a penalty or not, the result of it being an injury or not should not play into the call.

Isn't it ironic that the cage (which was supposed to protect him) was the thing that caused the bleeding, not a high stick.
- powerenforcer

The NHL always punishes the result, never the intention. The league is ran by dinosaurs and backwards thinking.

Im sure No Show Joe is doing just fine now since youve been by his bedside the entire time
- KINGKENZO

he got 4 assists without being on the ice and scored a goal off his face earlier in the series

not too bad

Stewie loses credibility with this post. It's clearly a blown call, something everyone from the league itself to every other former official who has commented on it has said.

If you can't bring yourself to say refs screwed up in a situation where everyone is calling them on it, because you know what they are going through and feel for them, it's understandable, but it just gives people the impression you are a shill for the officials and everything you post should be viewed from that perspective.

Stewie loses credibility with this post. It's clearly a blown call, something everyone from the league itself to every other former official who has commented on it has said.

If you can't bring yourself to say refs screwed up in a situation where everyone is calling them on it, because you know what they are going through and feel for them, it's understandable, but it just gives people the impression you are a shill for the officials and everything you post should be viewed from that perspective.
- Antilles

Well, no. He has built up credibility over decades of experience playing and reffing at the highest level. One opinion doesn't change that and it is silly to suggest otherwise.

That being said, it was the wrong call, at BEST a 2 minute minor. It was the contact with the other player after the initial cross check that sent him to the ice with the force he did, and that was incidental contact.

Agree 100% Paul,why in that situation up 3-0 you decide to go up high on a player on a faceoff of all things puzzles me. Had he jumped back and played D this forum thread would never have happened!!

Well, no. He has built up credibility over decades of experience playing and reffing at the highest level. One opinion doesn't change that and it is silly to suggest otherwise.

That being said, it was the wrong call, at BEST a 2 minute minor. It was the contact with the other player after the initial cross check that sent him to the ice with the force he did, and that was incidental contact.
- MBFlyerfan

as a media person, he certainly has.

Next season, Paul Stewart will be wearing a Sharks cheerleader tutu and pom-poms, yelling "go Sharks go." If he thinks a love tap like Eakin threw is selfish and petulant, then maybe Better Homes & Gardens will hire Stewart to write their Feminine Hygiene columns.

Actually I did read the blog and all the posts, even deleted some.

It doesn't matter what his status is today, I watched the game, watched the infraction and I can understand where his thought process is coming from. You don't agree but it doesn't give you the right to act out and get all hot and bothered.

Try being a bit calmer and civil, posting in anger will take years off your life, or so I've heard..
- Makita

This is a hockey blog...not Dr. Phil's therapy hour