kinda kicky? No?

kinda kicky? No?
- gravyface

I thought so

kinda kicky? No?
- gravyface

You see the way they are calling this game in the third?

They could throw it in and it would count.

Suck it Cooper

Didn't take long to erase the leafs 4 goal lead.
Cant blame woll for either goal.....he still has a shutout in my mind.


Willie the future captain seals the horniness.

Styles ftw

Willy buries it, nice. Now lock it down window lickers, jeezus H.

You see the way they are calling this game in the third?

They could throw it in and it would count.
- Monkeypunk

Yeah. NHL is rigged.

We are missing our shutdown pair with McCabe out.

OEL has been a nice surprise, but he's not McCabe in his own end.

(frank) right off back to the swamp Tampa Gay Frightning

Connor Timmins is Berube’s Aki Berg.

Yeah. NHL is rigged.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Rigged-ish?

I'm a firm believer that it's not really rigged. But there are so many aspects that affect how an official is going to approach the game. Most of which are literally human nature.

If one team is getting a bunch of penalties, you know they are trying to find penalties to call against the other team.

If one team is getting beaten pretty soundly - or even just has no momentum or no flow to their game - the refs are going to try and find penalties to call against the other team. That's more of a natural hand-up aspect.

The refs are also not immune to the media and the Leafs sure have a lot of media sources that the refs are going to see. Who's bad, who's been diving, who's doing what-and-what - and if you ever watch the NHL as an entity - as run by Bettman and Campbell - they are not good at getting in front of problems but they react quickly to perceived issues that the media is collectively reporting. There was lots of media activity about Bunting diving and drawing penalties, for instance, 3 years ago. All of a sudden he could have been shot on the ice and it wouldn't have drawn a penalty.

It's a very, very broken system that requires constant attention and input to the refs - so the obvious answer, in my opinion, is that they have no interest in fixing it. They like it the way it is.

Connor Timmins is Berube’s Aki Berg.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I'll play. What don't you like about Conor Timmins?

that was to close for comfort!!

good W by the Leafs

Rigged-ish?

I'm a firm believer that it's not really rigged. But there are so many aspects that affect how an official is going to approach the game. Most of which are literally human nature.

If one team is getting a bunch of penalties, you know they are trying to find penalties to call against the other team.

If one team is getting beaten pretty soundly - or even just has no momentum or no flow to their game - the refs are going to try and find penalties to call against the other team. That's more of a natural hand-up aspect.

The refs are also not immune to the media and the Leafs sure have a lot of media sources that the refs are going to see. Who's bad, who's been diving, who's doing what-and-what - and if you ever watch the NHL as an entity - as run by Bettman and Campbell - they are not good at getting in front of problems but they react quickly to perceived issues that the media is collectively reporting. There was lots of media activity about Bunting diving and drawing penalties, for instance, 3 years ago. All of a sudden he could have been shot on the ice and it wouldn't have drawn a penalty.

It's a very, very broken system that requires constant attention and input to the refs - so the obvious answer, in my opinion, is that they have no interest in fixing it. They like it the way it is.
- Monkeypunk

Same thing happened with Kadri drawing penalties. Suddenly he could be assaulted on the ice with no penalty.

The situation is exactly as you describe. I won't pretend the leafs are the "only" victim, but they definitely aren't on the right side of the ledger.

The NHL wants it that way. It is their way to try to keep the games competitive.

Nice bounce back and win, hung onto it there. Tampa is still damn dangerous and made it a bit interesting there but... Great return for Matthews and Knies too!

I'll play. What don't you like about Conor Timmins?
- Monkeypunk

He's no Timothy Liljegren........Thankfully!

That OEL penalty was pathetic.

Usually bad penalties I get over it in real time but that just can not be called ever in a game, let alone in a final 2 mins of a game.

If you are going to call him call them both.

That OEL penalty was pathetic.

Usually bad penalties I get over it in real time but that just can not be called ever in a game, let alone in a final 2 mins of a game.

If you are going to call him call them both.
- Santo_44

That and the non-call pick, game management at it's finest. I swear they do it to trigger the fans and generate post-game buzz.

That and the non-call pick, game management at it's finest. I swear they do it to trigger the fans and generate post-game buzz.
- gravyface

I blame the league for telling them to make calls based on what time it is and what level of game it is.

These are already pretty bad refs, why make it even easier for them to mess up?

Hawks, Pens, Caps, Preds, Red Wings, Devils


I might be greedy here but with the team getting healthy I want 5 wins here.

No power at the cottage I am staying at.

Highway 11 closed.

It’s gonna be a loooooooooong Sunday.

Hawks, Pens, Caps, Preds, Red Wings, Devils


I might be greedy here but with the team getting healthy I want 5 wins here.
- Santo_44

Chicago plays the day before, so we have an advantage there.

Nashville will be rested, but they do play Montreal the next day.

Washington will be rested, but they do play Montreal the next day.

We play Pittsburgh with no rest and travelling to Pittsburgh; they play the Rangers in NY the before, too - so they'll also be travelling.

We play Jersey on the 10th, but it's even footing. Both are rested and don't play the next day. It's in Jersey.

We play Anaheim on the 12th; they play in Ottawa the night before.

The games that follow (in Detroit, and hosting Buffalo) are also games where both teams are rested - but are also opportunities.

In that mix of upcoming games - you just don't know, but Chicago always gets up for Toronto, Jersey will be motivated, Washington has been playing well. Anaheim is crazy streaky this year and Buffalo always plays well against us.

As long as this team doesn't take anything for granted, they could have a nice stretch here.

Chicago plays the day before, so we have an advantage there.

Nashville will be rested, but they do play Montreal the next day.

Washington will be rested, but they do play Montreal the next day.

We play Pittsburgh with no rest and travelling to Pittsburgh; they play the Rangers in NY the before, too - so they'll also be travelling.

We play Jersey on the 10th, but it's even footing. Both are rested and don't play the next day. It's in Jersey.

We play Anaheim on the 12th; they play in Ottawa the night before.

The games that follow (in Detroit, and hosting Buffalo) are also games where both teams are rested - but are also opportunities.

In that mix of upcoming games - you just don't know, but Chicago always gets up for Toronto, Jersey will be motivated, Washington has been playing well. Anaheim is crazy streaky this year and Buffalo always plays well against us.

As long as this team doesn't take anything for granted, they could have a nice stretch here.
- Monkeypunk

The Leafs seem to get up for monday night prime games. Not sure if there is anything to it but I don't know, I would imagine a lot of the players have a lot of buddies saying they are tuning into the game since it is so accessible and fans seem to love the broadcast.

This is a stretch where they have a good chance at having a run here.

This team feels different to me and in the past they would come out of these runs 6-4. I would like a good stretch here.

The Leafs seem to get up for monday night prime games. Not sure if there is anything to it but I don't know, I would imagine a lot of the players have a lot of buddies saying they are tuning into the game since it is so accessible and fans seem to love the broadcast.

This is a stretch where they have a good chance at having a run here.

This team feels different to me and in the past they would come out of these runs 6-4. I would like a good stretch here.
- Santo_44

If nothing else, you want to see if Berube can get this group to stay motivated when it looks like it's a "cakewalk" game - the games they always give 2 points away on.

That said - and the truth is - this is December. Real hockey - when the checking gets tight and teams start amping up for the playoffs and offense dwindles - starts in February. So a lot of these games are instilling system, attitude and focus in my opinion. Obviously you need and want the points, but the real detail is under the surface and we probably won't see it until February.