Jeff Paul: Game Changers: Game 7 - That Just Happened.....

Seemed certain for days that Knights would play Avs. Now maybe our fanbases can unite in common cause!

Great Blog Jeff. You've become one of my favorites on here, keep it up! As a Flames fan, I really couldn't pick a side in this one. I just watched as an unbiased fan and appreciated/disliked both teams!
I agree with all of your points: 1) It wasn't a 5-minute major, but it was called. Vegas needed to do better on the PK. I also think Couture's goal shouldn't have been interference in a previous game, and Vegas arguably won that game because of that call. Also, Eakin's 2nd goal WAS a high-stick. Sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they don't. That's any team sport, including soccer, basketball, football... But almost as damning as for the Saints in the NFC championship. Still, both teams had a chance to win these games in OT, and didn't in the end.
2) There should be video replay for 5-minute major calls. It almost always has a significant outcome in any game, and really, is 2-4 minutes delay really that bothersome to get a call right?
3) Vegas were up 3-1. And Vegas will be in the playoffs next year.

Funny how the losing team fans, writers, etc. make excuses on why they lost. Vegas' PK was horrid and even with a 2 min penalty they would have scored it looks like or the argument could be made it should have been a 5 on 3 then which after that horrid PK they could have scored twice. Sharks were down 3 games to 1. Vegas gave up simple as that. Quit looking for excuses.

Seemed certain for days that Knights would play Avs. Now maybe our fanbases can unite in common cause!
- Footer52

I had a comparison article already done for that series....

A well thought out and reasoned explanation... Excellent work... Knights got hosed Bad for sure ..

Couldn't sleep last night after watching how that game ended up. I almost called in sick to work today.

This was worse than watching Michael Leighton allow that pathetic goal in game 6 of the SCF against Kane. Absolute collapse.

Trying to stay positive here they will potentially be stacked next year.

Stone-Stastny-Patches
Marchy-Karlsson-Smith
Gusev-Haula-Tuch
Reaves-Eakin-Nosek/Carrier

I was pulling for Vegas, but I think many are overlooking a serious point here:

Championship teams don't just trot their way to the cup. They overcome the biggest challenges and tons of bullpoop calls/missed calls. That Vegas PK was TERRIBLE. Teams, even not-so-good teams, kill off 5 minute majors. Letting up one goal? Ok. Two goals? Sure. Four? Un acceptable.

On two of those goals, Vegas did NOTHING to clear a path for Fleury to see those shots.

Should the Knights' players and their fans feel cheated? Sure, but only to a point. There needs to be some blame on this team for letting up four goals. They needed to be better and they weren't.

That said, the league should implement review on major and double-minor penalties.

Yes it was a bad call.. But 4 goals in 5 minutes..C'mon

Serves mcphee right for not allowing mccrimmon to interview for a gm job.

I’ve been saying for the past year the VGK has the most obnoxious, entitled, ignorant fans in hockey. I’m glad articles like this exist to prove my point.

Maybe next time don’t allow #4goalsin401

I’ve been saying for the past year the VGK has the most obnoxious, entitled, ignorant fans in hockey. I’m glad articles like this exist to prove my point.

Maybe next time don’t allow #4goalsin401
- Za Warudo

Yeah, pretty much anyone who feels the need to come to the Vegas blog to troll them after they got screwed by that call has mental health issues.

Great Blog Jeff. You've become one of my favorites on here, keep it up! As a Flames fan, I really couldn't pick a side in this one. I just watched as an unbiased fan and appreciated/disliked both teams!
I agree with all of your points: 1) It wasn't a 5-minute major, but it was called. Vegas needed to do better on the PK. I also think Couture's goal shouldn't have been interference in a previous game, and Vegas arguably won that game because of that call. Also, Eakin's 2nd goal WAS a high-stick. Sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they don't. That's any team sport, including soccer, basketball, football... But almost as damning as for the Saints in the NFC championship. Still, both teams had a chance to win these games in OT, and didn't in the end.
2) There should be video replay for 5-minute major calls. It almost always has a significant outcome in any game, and really, is 2-4 minutes delay really that bothersome to get a call right?
3) Vegas were up 3-1. And Vegas will be in the playoffs next year.
- quinneroma

Thanks! I really appreciate that!

Great Blog Jeff. You've become one of my favorites on here, keep it up! As a Flames fan, I really couldn't pick a side in this one. I just watched as an unbiased fan and appreciated/disliked both teams!
I agree with all of your points: 1) It wasn't a 5-minute major, but it was called. Vegas needed to do better on the PK. I also think Couture's goal shouldn't have been interference in a previous game, and Vegas arguably won that game because of that call. Also, Eakin's 2nd goal WAS a high-stick. Sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they don't. That's any team sport, including soccer, basketball, football... But almost as damning as for the Saints in the NFC championship. Still, both teams had a chance to win these games in OT, and didn't in the end.
2) There should be video replay for 5-minute major calls. It almost always has a significant outcome in any game, and really, is 2-4 minutes delay really that bothersome to get a call right?
3) Vegas were up 3-1. And Vegas will be in the playoffs next year.
- quinneroma

Wait, mom, is this you??

Couldn't sleep last night after watching how that game ended up. I almost called in sick to work today.

This was worse than watching Michael Leighton allow that pathetic goal in game 6 of the SCF against Kane. Absolute collapse.

Trying to stay positive here they will potentially be stacked next year.

Stone-Stastny-Patches
Marchy-Karlsson-Smith
Gusev-Haula-Tuch
Reaves-Eakin-Nosek/Carrier
- Yosimar89

Aw no.....why'd you have to bring that up I just got over that!

Serves mcphee right for not allowing mccrimmon to interview for a gm job.
- oil90

Is this confirmed?

Vegas managed to do something that has not been in 8 years, give up 4 goals on a 5 minute PP

Up 3-1 in series,
Have a power play in game 6 to win the game give up a shorty.
Give up 4 goals on a 5 minute PK.
Gallant failing to call a timeout after 2 goals scored inside a minute on the 5 minute major to settle his team down.

Lots of things to point to why Vegas is going home

Is this confirmed?
- Jeff Paul

Thats whats being said but in reality i dont blame them. Honestly though that was a BS call two minutes tops not five. Anyone who says they shouldnt have let in four goals doesnt understand momentum shifts in sports that all started with a brutal call.

Couldn't sleep last night after watching how that game ended up. I almost called in sick to work today.

This was worse than watching Michael Leighton allow that pathetic goal in game 6 of the SCF against Kane. Absolute collapse.

Trying to stay positive here they will potentially be stacked next year.

Stone-Stastny-Patches
Marchy-Karlsson-Smith
Gusev-Haula-Tuch
Reaves-Eakin-Nosek/Carrier
- Yosimar89

I’m willing to bet Glass is in that lineup, and pretty high too

Disgustingly bad call and the incompetence league wide in all the series with the officiating has been staggering. If I'm Bettman and the higher up's this has to get addressed before next year for sure. It' has just been that bad.

End of the day though you have to battle through adversity and plenty of things that could have and possibly should have happened.

I’m willing to bet Glass is in that lineup, and pretty high too
- QuickSCF

He could probably take Karlsson's spot once they trade him to the Habs.

Bad call sure...but bad calls are made in sports every.single.game.
Get over it.
Truly good teams persevere and find a way to win.
Bad teams find excuses.
The difference here is simply that the Knights choked and gave up 4 goals on a 5 min PP...fact.
You cannot expect to win anything with a brutal PK like that.
Besides the fact that Vegas let the Sharks back in the series in the first place.
I for one am just happy I don't have to witness those brutal opening ceremonies until next year.

Bad calls happen in every game, it's how you respond. Allowing four goals in four minutes is a poor response. But, even with that, you tied the game and had every opportunity to win the series in OT, and didn't.

Combine that with blowing 3-1 series lead, allowing a short-handed goal in OT...well, not a championship level team.

On the positive side, your franchise was gifted a really good team right out of the gate, no other expansion team has had that luxury, so savor that.

It was a penalty. No question. Not only does he cross check Pavelski. It could have been called interference because how many times after a face off do players initiate contact after the draw to obstruct players. Eakin did both. The cross check was not intended to be violent the rule states that holding the stick with two hands to forcefully check an opponent. Clearly the case. Major penalties are simply severe cases of minor penalties and although there is no intent here, the Eakin cross check clearly forces the player into a dangerous position and causes injury. I think the call is correct. Had it been my team that this was called on I might argue for it to just be a minor penalty but I understand the call and don’t have a problem with it. Player safety is the number one concern in this league as it should be

Aw no.....why'd you have to bring that up I just got over that!
- Jeff Paul

Fellow former-ish Flyers fan?.