EC Playoffs Round 1: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens (Canadiens win 4-0).

[habernac]

Last year, Leafs-Bruins series.

Game 2. Mike Leggo--North Bay, Ontario.

Game 5. Dan O'Halloran--Essex, Ontario. Paul Devorski--Guelph, Ontario.

Game 7. Dan O'Halloran--Essex, Ontario.

.....

For what it's worth, Hab fans HATE Francois St. Laurent

[Hockeyguy15]

People don't complain at the Olympics when Canada gets a Canadian ref.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the whole officiating crew was not french? One french guy on the crew does not mean there is bias. There will always be blown calls in hockey regardless, for example Stamkos got away with that punch after his penalty and he should have ended up with 4 mins.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Tampa did not deserve to be in this series at all, but the simple truth is the Montreal Canadiens greatly benefited from a couple of highly controversial calls in games 3 and 4, in Montreal, called by Quebec referees. We are talking about a league that uses off-ice officials from other cities (historically, at least. Unsure about today) to avoid the perception of bias yet fails to do the same with its on-ice officials. Even if you think the calls were correct, the appearance of bias is legitimate, and should be of legitimate concern for the league.

So are you saying that "english" officials should not referee "english" team's games? Or is the bias is only one way?

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

So are you saying that "english" officials should not referee "english" team's games? Or is the bias is only one way?

Um that's a pretty terrible comparison. If there was one English speaking team in the NHL then yeah it would be the same thing.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Um that's a pretty terrible comparison. If there was one English speaking team in the NHL then yeah it would be the same thing.

no, it isn't

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Um that's a pretty terrible comparison. If there was one English speaking team in the NHL then yeah it would be the same thing.

Oh.
So only the 'minority' can be biased - socially, culturally, ethnically or racially?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

So are you saying that "english" officials should not referee "english" team's games? Or is the bias is only one way?

I would say BC guys like Tom Kowal and Steve Kozari should not be officiating Canucks games for the same reasons.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Oh.
So only the 'minority' can be biased - socially, culturally, ethnically or racially?

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I hereby curse TB to never win another cup until Calgary finally gets theirs. So there.



#### you Lightning.

Agreed. I wish nothing but ill will for that disgusting organization. I hope Drouin busts and they lose all their stars and wallow in mediocrity like the Panthers for the rest of time. That'll show them to tank last season and work their way up to pretenders this season. Hopefully Yzerman gets the F outta there before the ship sinks.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

So are you saying that "english" officials should not referee "english" team's games? Or is the bias is only one way?

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Oh.

So only the 'minority' can be biased - socially, culturally, ethnically or racially?

1 French Canadian team.
29 English teams.

82 games involving a French Canadian team.
2,296 games involving only "English" teams.

What bias, exactly, would an English referee have in the 2,296 games that involve only "English" teams?

[puckluck2]

Lets not forget in the 2004 cup finals Fraser and Watson were replaced after some terrible calls in game 4. The NHL does replace refs during series at times and I believe this should have been one of them.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Lets not forget in the 2004 cup finals Fraser and Watson were replaced after some terrible calls in game 4. The NHL does replace refs during series at times and I believe this should have been one of them.

To be fair, that is not a comparable situation. They were moved from their scheduled game 6 to game 7 (Watson, at least) because of extreme fan anger rather than an issue of bias - in perception or reality.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by strombad

What bias, exactly, would an English referee have in the 2,296 games that involve only "English" teams?

None, based solely on language. But he may have any/many others.
Obviously though, by the same logic as we are following here, his bias would be against the "French" team, and he therefore should not officiate those games.

Perhaps we need the Latvian officials for this one. (Unless there are Latvian born player(s) on either team, in which case he might be biased)

[DOOM]

How many riots were there last night in Montreal?

[FlamesAddiction]

I'm glad. I hate Tampa.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by DOOM

How many riots were there last night in Montreal?

I was a bit disappointed - there were none (but I left downtown before midnight)
Several hundred officers, with full riot gear in hand, stationed every half block up and down Sainte-Catherines may have been enough deterrent.
Either that, or the faithful know they are in for the long haul this spring... and are saving their destructive energy for much later

[$ven27]

They'll get swept by Boston anyways.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by $ven27

They'll get swept by Boston anyways.

Apparently not if Francois St. Laurent gets a game.

[troutman]

Montréal n'est pas bon.

[Ashasx]

Montreal being called the team of destiny on Hockeycentral at Noon.

Can't wait until the Bruins sweep them.