Controversial non-goal call sinks Habs 3-2

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 11, 2009 11:05 AM EST

The above is the title of the article on a Montreal Sports radio station Team 990

Let me explain the situation.

I listen to this radio station because it is mostly a great sports station. They get really great guests with a lot of insights and they talk a lot of hockey. Most of the hosts are very realistic about the Habs - but they obviously do not want to offend the mouthbreather fans that call/email in.

Last night the Habs lost to the Penguins and there was a bad call made against them that may have decided the game. Fans were calling in/emailing on how the Refs seem to have it out for them and they never get any breaks blah blah blah.

I took it upon myself to email the host - If I thought he would actually read my email on the air, I would have copy/pasted it, unfortunately I have to paraphrase.

First I said I enjoyed, for the most part, listening to this station. Then I went into the reason for my email:

'I have been listening to the calls and emails read on the air about how the refs have a bias against the Canadiens. I'm a Leafs fan and we have blown/missed calls deciding games for us on a semi regular basis. Ribeiro reacting to a high stick without getting hit, Ponikarovsky getting a delay of game penalty when everyone but the refs could clearly see the puck deflected off the glass, Ian White getting a double minor high sticking call when it was the oppositions own teammate who high-sticked him.

I am not saying the refs are biased against the Leafs, I am saying the reffing has been really really poor this year. If you lose on a controversial call, then you probably didn't do enough to distance yourself from the opposition in the first place.

Thanks'

I give him a lot of credit for reading my email on the air. The only exception he took to it (and was only vaguely inferred in my email) was to the fact that the best team doesn't always win and the team who works hard and sometimes dominates the game doesn't always get the win because of these missed calls.

Except for them sometimes catering to their fans(which I understand) I enjoy listening to this station.

Does it make me like the Habs? No - but it does give me an insight into the side of the Habs that aren't full of braggadocio - they are as insecure and upset at the performances of their team as we are at ours.

I say - Good!!!

UPDATE: An hour and a half on - the fans are still bitching about the whistle....

Poll

Is the refereeing biased against certain teams?

Yes - the refs hate the Leafs, Watch the games!

6 votes

Yes - there are certain teams they are always trying to job

2 votes

No - they are impartial and their mistakes are just magnified because it costs games

11 votes

No - The refs are just inconsistantly horrible

28 votes

47 votes | Poll has closed

PensionPlanPuppets.com is a fan community that allows members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Toronto Maple Leafs and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editor of PensionPlanPuppets.com.

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I wanted to vote twice. They get magnified and they have been bad this year.

A good thing to keep in mind, refs blow calls A LOT. Not just against the Leafs.

This is PPP's work account until further notice. Damn Internet.

by David Danforth on Dec 11, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions

see, its ok when the refs fuck up against a team you hate, you pretend it doesnt happen!

I mean thats what every non-leaf fan does when it happens to us

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 11, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions

This isn't just about the Leafs...

the referees in general have been terrible in terms of screwing up certain calls.

"Luke Schenn is Stronger than Strength."
Truculence is Everything: Vote for the Leaf of the Decade Today.

by Marc Pilgrim on Dec 11, 2009 1:40 PM EST reply actions

We’ve got video review for goals, why not video review on penalties? That would certainly clear up issues like high-sticking that either doesn’t happen but gets called or is one team’s own player hitting his own guy.

-Graham-

by CanadianMaple09 on Dec 11, 2009 5:30 PM EST reply actions

If a goal cant be a goal unless it is 100% conclusive, why to so many officials guess on penalties?

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 11, 2009 5:48 PM EST up reply actions

To be quite honest...

Most nights the Leafs look like they actually give a damn, they work hard, outshoot their opponents (sometimes by a large margin), and yet they get no breaks and lose. Meanwhile the Habs play like garbage just about every night, allow about 40 shots a game while getting 20, and they get all the good breaks and win. Aren’t they due for a bad call? ;)

That said, they need to get rid of that stupid “I intended to blow the whistle here” bullshit…

Truculence...starting 10/1/09

by LeafBoy on Dec 11, 2009 5:49 PM EST reply actions

Generally speaking, those referees who are biased are generally biased in favour of more successful clubs, more widely supported clubs and home teams.

The Leafs get their share of bad calls – sometimes more than their share – so, no, I don’t think they’re biased. Just bad.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer

by article1 on Dec 13, 2009 1:58 AM EST reply actions

I think they are just always bad. I admit it feels like they are extra terrible to the Leafs, but honestly, watching other games proves that they just suck all the time.

Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!

by blindfolded tank driver on Dec 13, 2009 8:30 AM EST reply actions