The NHL Playoff Thread

[CFH]

Good for Pitts, I was listening on the radio and it sounded like they controlled much of the play until the third period. As much as I dislike the team and many of their players, it's great to see hockey as well supported as it is in Pittsburgh. They deserved to win and I won't be shedding any tears for Detroit.

I want to bitch about one thing, it has nothing to do with Pitts winning or anything like that, but I HATE the fact that the rules of hockey change depending on the time of year and the situation. In the NFL, a pass interference penalty (for example) is called the same way in the Superbowl as it is in preseason. This makes the game better for both players and fans because of the consistency and legitimacy of the calls. However, in hockey, what is ruled a penalty changes not only from game to game, but within games themselves. During the regular season, everything - even the most ridiculous of penalties - is called. However, in the playoffs the rules tend to inexplicitly change. What was a penalty during the regular season suddenly is not a penalty anymore. Furthermore, in the latter stages of the game what was a penalty in the first period is no longer one in the third. It drives me crazy.

Anyways, enough of my ranting. Good for Pitts, I hope they never win another one.

[Youngblood]

Yes, I was pretty surprised pittsburgh won in spite of the obviously bias officiating in game 7 for Detroit. lol

I understand what they do, with the officiating, and sorta agree with it. It is a long season, where rivalries and tempers are often spawned and feuled. Much like a child, or maybe a repeat criminal offender need harsher treatment them the norm to correct abhorrent behaviour, so works the NHL. It is a long season. Where it sees problems, it focuses on those problems and strictly punishes to deter it getting out of hand.

In the playoffs, they try to let the teams play with less of that. This should be the accumulation of their seasons goals of creating a mindset for tolerable play. And who wants to watch a playoff penalty filled game based on minor infractions? No one that I can think of.

That's how I see it.

[CFH]

Yes, I was pretty surprised pittsburgh won in spite of the obviously bias officiating in game 7 for Detroit. lol

I understand what they do, with the officiating, and sorta agree with it. It is a long season, where rivalries and tempers are often spawned and feuled. Much like a child, or maybe a repeat criminal offender need harsher treatment them the norm to correct abhorrent behaviour, so works the NHL. Where it sees problems, it focuses on those problems and strictly punishes to deter it getting out of hand.

In the playoffs, they try to let the teams play with less of that. This should be the accumulation of their seasons goals of creating a mindset for tolerable play. And who wants to watch a playoff penalty filled game based on minor infractions? No one that I can think of.

That's how I see it.

But the rules can't change based on the circumstances, that's a ridiculous standard (or lack thereof). I'm not talking about refs controlling tempers etc., that's fine as long as it's done in an equitable manner. However, when a player gets called for a hook in the season they should be called for the same hook in the post-season, it's unfair for the players (who universally cry out for consistency) and no other major sport changes their rules based on what time of year it is. The same thing should be the case during a game. I literally cannot count how many times I've seen an identical play called for a penalty in the first and second period and not called in the third. It's ridiculous and it makes a lot of fans want to throw up their hands in disgust.

Futhermore, I think this inconsistency actually leads to more penalities and a general worsening of the quality of the product on the ice. Players do not know which standards they will be held to an as such are unsure of how to act. As for the rules being different in the playoffs, penalties, powerplays etc. directly result in who is included in the playoffs (teams with shitty special teams almost never make the post-season), so why should the standard suddenly be changed? I don't want to see a penalty-fest in the playoffs either, but I want consistency.

[Youngblood]

Yes, I was pretty surprised pittsburgh won in spite of the obviously bias officiating in game 7 for Detroit. lol

I understand what they do, with the officiating, and sorta agree with it. It is a long season, where rivalries and tempers are often spawned and feuled. Much like a child, or maybe a repeat criminal offender need harsher treatment them the norm to correct abhorrent behaviour, so works the NHL. Where it sees problems, it focuses on those problems and strictly punishes to deter it getting out of hand.

In the playoffs, they try to let the teams play with less of that. This should be the accumulation of their seasons goals of creating a mindset for tolerable play. And who wants to watch a playoff penalty filled game based on minor infractions? No one that I can think of.

That's how I see it.

But the rules can't change based on the circumstances, that's a ridiculous standard (or lack thereof). I'm not talking about refs controlling tempers etc., that's fine as long as it's done in an equitable manner. However, when a player gets called for a hook in the season they should be called for the same hook in the post-season, it's unfair for the players (who universally cry out for consistency) and no other major sport changes their rules based on what time of year it is. The same thing should be the case during a game. I literally cannot count how many times I've seen an identical play called for a penalty in the first and second period and not called in the third. It's ridiculous and it makes a lot of fans want to throw up their hands in disgust.

Futhermore, I think this inconsistency actually leads to more penalities and a general worsening of the quality of the product on the ice. Players do not know which standards they will be held to an as such are unsure of how to act. As for the rules being different in the playoffs, penalties, powerplays etc. directly result in who is included in the playoffs (teams with shitty special teams almost never make the post-season), so why should the standard suddenly be changed? I don't want to see a penalty-fest in the playoffs either, but I want consistency.

We'll have to agree to disagree then.

[CFH]

Yes, I was pretty surprised pittsburgh won in spite of the obviously bias officiating in game 7 for Detroit. lol

I understand what they do, with the officiating, and sorta agree with it. It is a long season, where rivalries and tempers are often spawned and feuled. Much like a child, or maybe a repeat criminal offender need harsher treatment them the norm to correct abhorrent behaviour, so works the NHL. Where it sees problems, it focuses on those problems and strictly punishes to deter it getting out of hand.

In the playoffs, they try to let the teams play with less of that. This should be the accumulation of their seasons goals of creating a mindset for tolerable play. And who wants to watch a playoff penalty filled game based on minor infractions? No one that I can think of.

That's how I see it.

But the rules can't change based on the circumstances, that's a ridiculous standard (or lack thereof). I'm not talking about refs controlling tempers etc., that's fine as long as it's done in an equitable manner. However, when a player gets called for a hook in the season they should be called for the same hook in the post-season, it's unfair for the players (who universally cry out for consistency) and no other major sport changes their rules based on what time of year it is. The same thing should be the case during a game. I literally cannot count how many times I've seen an identical play called for a penalty in the first and second period and not called in the third. It's ridiculous and it makes a lot of fans want to throw up their hands in disgust.

Futhermore, I think this inconsistency actually leads to more penalities and a general worsening of the quality of the product on the ice. Players do not know which standards they will be held to an as such are unsure of how to act. As for the rules being different in the playoffs, penalties, powerplays etc. directly result in who is included in the playoffs (teams with shitty special teams almost never make the post-season), so why should the standard suddenly be changed? I don't want to see a penalty-fest in the playoffs either, but I want consistency.

We'll have to agree to disagree then.

I don't agree with that (Simpsons quote).

[Youngblood]

But the rules can't change based on the circumstances, that's a ridiculous standard (or lack thereof). I'm not talking about refs controlling tempers etc., that's fine as long as it's done in an equitable manner. However, when a player gets called for a hook in the season they should be called for the same hook in the post-season, it's unfair for the players (who universally cry out for consistency) and no other major sport changes their rules based on what time of year it is. The same thing should be the case during a game. I literally cannot count how many times I've seen an identical play called for a penalty in the first and second period and not called in the third. It's ridiculous and it makes a lot of fans want to throw up their hands in disgust.

Futhermore, I think this inconsistency actually leads to more penalities and a general worsening of the quality of the product on the ice. Players do not know which standards they will be held to an as such are unsure of how to act. As for the rules being different in the playoffs, penalties, powerplays etc. directly result in who is included in the playoffs (teams with shitty special teams almost never make the post-season), so why should the standard suddenly be changed? I don't want to see a penalty-fest in the playoffs either, but I want consistency.

We'll have to agree to disagree then.

I don't agree with that (Simpsons quote).

We'll have to agree to disagree with that. (Simpsons, really?)

[CFH]

We'll have to agree to disagree then.

I don't agree with that (Simpsons quote).

We'll have to agree to disagree with that. (Simpsons, really?)

Ever see the episode where the teachers go on strike? Flanders (I think) is trying to get Principal Skinner and Ms. Krabappel talking and he say "...well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree" and Skinner responds "I don't agree with that..."