Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzzard
It likely is that simple with the oilers.
Can we stop stooping to oiler fanboy levels though with the refereeing conspiracies?? I think we're better than that here. I highly doubt the league has instructed officials to make calls purposely favoring any team in the league.
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I think officiating has been changed in favor of McDavid. The narratives around him, that he has "a lane" and it must be respected, this kind of thing, are real and pervasive. I think the NHL and all the affiliated broadcasters are on board with anointing and carrying a superstar because they want one, they need one for the brand. (And I'm not saying McD isn't an incredible talent, he is. But they've quite literally changed the rules of the game for him.)
The game management is real and obvious - I don't know that it's favoring one team or another, but it's like the Mario Kart scenario - the guy behind has a faster car because the game is more fun that way. Except for the guy in front.
I don't think the officials hate Calgary (although the Wideman effect was obvious and measurable pre and post incident). I think the league loves McDavid. Why don't they talk about MacKinnon at half time? He's the best player in the league. Because they've CHOSEN McDavid as the golden one. And it's too bad. He's no Crosby.
I would never suggest that the Flames play perfect penalty free hockey, no team does. It's a hockey game, not a philosophy lecture. I just want to see penalties called penalties, and called the same for both teams.