This league kind of sucks..

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

From the Parallax saga between the 04 Gelinas moment and that Ducks series Bennett goal to the Coleman "kick" on a puck already travelling into the net (that even McDavid conceded was confusing to him), to stuff like we witnessed this evening - this isn't fun any more. It's the opposite of it.

There was a lot of excitement coming into this game for myself and around town with the improved play of the team, and for it to be in part determined a squinter type of play that not only was egregiously late to be challenged, but was very much up to interpretation as opposed to a direct representation a broken rule, you come away from it kind of hating the game this league ices where the rug can be pulled out just like that and the way these games are overseen (behind closed doors with little to no clarity). A loss fair and square without that "what if" would be much easier to digest than this was.

I feel like each year I'm learning new reasons for why a goal can be recalled and the fact that we're still discovering these things without a firm, established line that everybody can see and make sense of does not reflect well on the NHL.

I hate playing the victim card too, which if anything intensifies the bitterness because it doesn't make sense that the supposed top league in the world can leave you scratching your head this often and just carry on with its business expecting you to show up the next night to burn your hard earned money...

What are your thoughts?

[dieHARDflameZ]

What happened tonight had zero effect on the Flames scoring that goal. Literally multiple passes and hockey plays occurred after the “hand pass”. Just a garbage rule that needs to be looked at and changed in my opinion.

[N-E-B]

I’ve been distant from pro sports in general lately. Everything is overpriced, the product is becoming generic across the board, the players and owners make way too much money, and everything is a walking talking advertisement. It’s become corporate crap.

I don’t think this is an NHL issue, honestly. These leagues are not true leagues, they’re entertainment businesses. They’re not in the business of providing a fair and consistent product, they’re in the business of promoting and showcasing their talent to make as much money as possible from them.

I’m also just getting to the age where I’ve accepted that I can’t control the outcome of sports so there’s no use in getting overly upset about it. It sucks that pretty much every team I cheer for rarely has success but what can you do?

I just enjoy the wins now and don’t get too wrapped up in the losses. It’s not worth it.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

What happened tonight had zero effect on the Flames scoring that goal. Literally multiple passes and hockey plays occurred after the “hand pass”. Just a garbage rule that needs to be looked at and changed in my opinion.

It's the new "toe in the crease" rule.

[sch19lks]

Best sport, worst league

[dino7c]

It really does

Flames play their #1 rival at home for the first time in 13 months Saturday and I am going to play Shinny at 8:30 by choice

I know it will be a bunch of random nonsense calls...don't get excited about a goal because there is a pretty good chance an infraction happened on the play, but only certain infractions...the ones that don't actually effect the play haha.

You let the refs make the penalty calls and non calls live let them call the ####ing game for better or worse

only review there should ever be is was it in (they will #### that up too anyway)

seriously, there is no less controversy now anyway

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

What happened tonight had zero effect on the Flames scoring that goal. Literally multiple passes and hockey plays occurred after the “hand pass”. Just a garbage rule that needs to be looked at and changed in my opinion.

If the officials miss it during the play (because it wasn't obvious enough to them), whatever follows needs to count. Otherwise you're redacting too much game play and that kills the product.

Bringing back goals only makes sense for conclusive offsides. Those are at least pretty black and white and won't leave confusion, as opposed to this.

It's way too 'interpretive' for my taste. And we don't know who's on the phone making said interpretations and the final determination, but what they say goes and we'll get no breakdown of how they came to that conclusion.

It seems like on that call they were so focused on pinpointing whether there was even the smallest of contact, that they forgot to vet it for the other part of the rule that states that it's a hand pass if it's directed towards a teammate or provides an advantage. Not sure how a glance that merely affects the spin on the puck heading for two players that had equal opportunity to try to handle it qualifies as directed to a teammate (Coleman didn't even think it hit him, so I don't see how he consciously does anything).

[dino7c]

blatant trip leads to a goal, ref kicks the puck in the net

no problem, sorry guy...them's the breaks

glanced off a glove 5 mins ago, not on Gary's watch

the league is going to get what they deserve when the cup winning goal is called back 10 mins later and they have to sweep up the confetti and be charged with inciting a riot when the stadium is torn apart

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

Best sport, worst league

The NBA is the worst league. It's the easiest of the four major sports to fix. Everyone seems to know it as well. The league clearly has favorites (Lakers, Celtics, and recently the Warriors). I agree with those saying this is a common problem. This is exactly why Darko called out the NBA last week. They know it's rigged, as it's storyline driven and the NBA will do whatever it takes to get LeBron and the Lakers into the playoffs.

It's more obvious than ever before that each of the big four pushes certain teams, players, or stories into the limelight. Imagine if the finals were Flames vs. Senators or Blue Jackets vs. Predators. The ratings and coverage would be in the toilet. The same could be said for smaller market teams without major star players in any of the major leagues.

Obviously it's different case when generational players like McDavid, James, and possibly Wembanyama enter the league as they can put any city on the map. Unfortunately the Flames have never had anyone close to resembling a McDavid, and they are not in a market like Toronto, New York, or Chicago. So they will always be frowned upon.

This is why very few smaller market teams have won championships in any of the four major sports in recent years. I'm not saying it never happens, but the odds are definitely stacked against it.

[Mr.Coffee]

The NHL blows. Wish to death there was a different group running it.

Biased nonsense in line with the WWE. Garbage.

[dino7c]

armageddon is coming IMO

You are already seeing it in Canadian rinks

[Manhattanboy]

Just wait til Saturday night. This thread will be on fire.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Trying to get superstars to the playoffs is lame.

If they can't earn their way there under the same rules that govern every other team then "them's the breaks"

No one but the filthy pig people of Edmonton enjoy seeing McDavid's nightly embellishment not only overlooked, but treated as legitimate infractions against him. It's bush league.

When we can't even make superstars work for their breaks, something's wrong with how the games are being run.

[dino7c]

the beauty of hockey is that it's the ultimate team game with many different attributes need to win...or it was anyway

[trackercowe]

I watch ESPN's daily coverage (primarily Around the Horn and PTI). The only two stories they cover this year and Bedard and McDavid. The Oilers win (and losing) streak is one of the only stories that have generated any coverage. The NHL is desperate for that kind of mainstream attention from the American media. Many teams had similar win streaks and not a word was said about them.

t's kind of sad, but McDavid is almost bigger than the league itself (similar to Lebron and the NBA). That might apply to Bedard one day as well. I don't believe it was the same for Sid/Ovi, but perhaps that's just my own bias.

[FlamesAddiction]

Just wait until a Stanley Cup OT goal is scored and then gets called back, or doesn't, because of something like what happened tonight.

[Snuffleupagus]

Murray Edwards needs to give Huska a blank check for a fine to publicly call out the officiating against his team, it's getting beyond ridiculous

Just watch on Saturday, Flames will control the game and the Oilers will be gifted late PP's after PP's to make sure they have a chance to win.

[dino7c]

dino7c

the "biggest Flames homer ever" has not spent one cent on the NHL since the Coleman non goal. People probably thought I was full of #### but so far I have held strong.

Full disclosure I have been to a game in Vegas in the finals that was a comp and drank a couple beers I didn't pay for. Hookers are not HHR right? just kidding

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

This is why very few smaller market teams have won championships in any of the four major sports in recent years. I'm not saying it never happens, but the odds are definitely stacked against it.

Denver? Not exactly a hoops hotbed.

Toronto built an NBA champion with bold moves tear sacrificed its future. They are now reaping what they sowed. Don’t see how that’s ’rigged.’


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Erick Estrada]

NHL officiating has always been the league's weak link but by the book it was the right call to overturn. At the end of the day it's just one of 82 games and every team will have a few losses during the season based on a crummy rule or poor officiating. Flames also aren't the only team that has been jobbed in the Stanley Cup finals as Sabres fans can attest. It's just the way things go in sports sometimes and it sucks to be on the wrong side of it but I don't understand the need for this thread as it's the kind of woe is me thread I would expect on an Oilers, Canucks, or Leafs forum. The team blew a 2 goal lead at the end of the day and have nobody to blame but themselves for losing the game. One good thing about being a Flames fan is that I feel we conduct ourselves better than some other Canadian fanbases. Lets not change that and become a bunch of whiners that blame everyone else for the state of our team.