Crackdown needs some common sense

I'm not even going to write about the game tonight because I believe you're starting to see some good things happen for the Lightning, I really do. I know, they lost again, but, I don't know, just seemed like a little different team. Paul Ranger made a huge difference and the stars came through in the third period. Okay, so Olaf Kolzig made a bad play. Happens. Does a fighting spirit really mean anything? I'm willing to wait and see.

Plus after writing three straight days of very negative stories, I'm sick of being a downer.

So, let's get on the refs.

The NHL is cracking down on stick and obstruction fouls and the referees are calling anything, no matter how small. Seventeen minor penalties were called in Thursday night's game, 10 on the Lightning. Some were barely touch fouls. And can we please have some sense of game situations?

Tampa Bay already was killing off a second-period penalty when Ranger was called for holding. Even if that was a penalty under the strictest sense of the word, if a team is killing a penalty, you don't call another penalty, in my opinion, unless the play is affected. Not even close in this case.

This isn't a homer rant. It is a rant to let the essense of the game come through. Bogging the game down with so many penalties just kills the flow and momentum of the game. Look, I'm all for taking obstruction and stick fouls out of the game, but calling almost non-existant penalties is not the way to do it. There has to be some middle ground. I know I don't want to watch a special teams battle.

You think the refs don't know they are injecting themselves into the game? Listen to Lightning coach Barry Melrose after Thursday's game and read between the lines.

"If you look at the tape, they're penalties," he said. "They're ticky-tack or whatever you want. That's what the referee comes over and tells us when we ask him. He says it, 'The letter of the law is the letter of the law.' Obviously, our guys, you can't touch a guy in the pants. That's it. Some referees call it different. But that's the bottom line. If you touch a guy with your stick, hopefully, it will be called both ways. That's all we can ask for."

So, here is my plea: Call it close, call it tight. But, please, read the flow of the game, and let the guys play. Geez, sounds like I'm channeling John Tortorella, there.

Comments

[Twinebulge]

Whatever.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the purpose of emphasizing the hooking and holding fouls was to SPEED UP the flow of the game. That effect was immediately achieved and is a smashing success. I can't even stand to watch old pre-lockout tapes with the slogging through molasses any more; if I want to watch rugby I'll watch rugby. It's like watching Barbara trying to get away from that first grabby zombie in the opening scene of Night of the Living Dead.

Now--like an empty-headed teen or 20-something rolling on E every other night--they've overdone what at first felt really good, and now it's really rotten. [Disclaimer to empty-headed teens & 20-somethings: How about never taking ecstasy in the first place, you idiots.] Calling "holding" every single little instance of the featherweight touching of another player by the stitching on the hockey glove has SLOWED DOWN the flow of the game. The effect created is worse than the original symptom being corrected. You did drugs to feel better, and now you feel worse...but you CAN'T STOP yourself.

May I suggest a little "Rule of Dumb" for the zebras (though I hate to insult such beautiful animals by linking them to NHL officials):

If the action taken by the player is less obstructive to the flow of the game than calling the penalty would be,....THEN LET IT GO, YOU MORONS. A guy breezes past another guy with no impediment whatsoever--who the hell cares if molecules of the hockey stick came in contact with a few molecules of hockey pant material. LET IT GO, YOU MORONS. If you're being ordered not to by morons higher up, then THOSE are the morons I'm addressingGaryBettman. They need to pay attention to what they're doing to the greatest sport ever conceived.

[Melanie]

Can we play hockey without the refs?? I think that would be more fun!! (*Seriously, I know that you have to play with refs, it was meant as a joke*)

[mike p]

Interesting that everyone is getting on the refs for calling penalties in Tampa, yet I was watching the detroit/vancouver game on TSN and both benches were getting on the refs for NOT calling penalties. I really think that with tampa, because the team is so new and has not gelled yet, the players don't know each other well enough and what happens? You get caught out of position a lot which causes careless penalties. With the team coming together over time, the penalties will decrease...just give it time.

[Tom M]

Hey Matt:

It sounds like if you had a brain you might be dangerous.

[Rudy]

:)

[matt]

Does Matt Carle have any atheletically redeeming value? He played so poorly tonight that he looked like a 4th line Pee Wee player.

Posted by: Tom M | October 17, 2008 at 01:09 AM

Please explain.... Im not sure what game you watched. I was there and although he wasnt the best dman out on the ice he sure as shi# wasnt the worst. Get over your hate, moron. Your lover Boyle is gone and never ever coming back. Whats next, are you going to start dogging Stamkos necause he isnt as good(yet) as Richards? Go root for them instead of spreading your moronic hate, loser!!!!

Its been a whopping 4 GAMES. Id like to know how the Bolts were after 4 games with Torts?

[Rudy]

Actually, it was Marty, who, when he was distress by boards, send puck to his own goal instead anywhere else. Does not acceptable from top player…

Let’s not started your old job , Daminien blame goalies for everything!

But, game was great, fun to watch, match better than last year…
They playing with really motivation, they lost, but I was not upset ..

[Hockey Chic]

I gotta say that some of the best games I have ever played were the ones that not a single penalty was called.

Bettman your type of hockey sucks.If we wanted to play nicey nicey we would not be watching or playing your brand of hockey. Leave the game alone and let it be the simpliest purest sport in the world. It is frustrating to see all the penalities but it is not going to change and bringing Torts back would not have accomplished a thing. Did we not get penalities when he was there. duh

Go Bolts!!!

[Tampa Wine Guy]

Sorry, to the topic at hand...
Hey Refs, PLEASE LET THEM PLAY HOCKEY!!!

[Tampa Wine Guy]

Great third period, very tough way to lose a game. Defense was much better with Ranger back. There is hope. Half way thru the season, this start will be a character builder.

Bill: Can I join you all on the 25th?

[olin]

...I personally would like to see less penelities, and let them play as they do in playoff's series games. Is much more exciting for the fan's, and am sure the players prefer it. That sort of thing will sell more ticket's..let them play, I know I have yelled that many times at the ref's skating by me. I'd like to watch and get my money's worth.
On another note, consider what happened in Chi town with Dennis Savard and the 'Hawks... 4 games into the season after a couple successful season's, getting axe'd already???What goes? I know growing up as a kid the folk's always told me to never hire or work for your family or a close friend. As much as I like OK hockey and what they are doing, cleaning house of the old regime, and bringing all new, maybe they made a wrong choice of Barry Melrose???(a close friend) Several times already I have thought to myself already this season so far, that maybe the "General" was not so bad..he did prepare the team to play and Torturella camp got them ready to the physical aspect...He was good in his X's&O's, was just to bad he went over the edge with his public defammation of player's, and unable keep the respect of the team with his nature. Not to bring up old over the hill issue's, but maybe OK hockey came in with the wrong coach...time will tell.
Go Bolt's!

[Nan]

It is difficult to continue to have patience with our team with so many penalties being made. The team takes more penalties every game, not fewer. The guys definitely need to work on that. Not moving their feet so they have to use their sticks instead? Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy! Overall, I thought that they looked better than in previous games except for the penalties.

[Marv]

If they would have won, how would you have felt? Much better I bet. They looked much better and appear to be getting their stuff together.
Well, Bettman, when will the official dress be tutus? This touchy feely call crap is over the top! Man up and let them play you wimp!
Marv

[rbc]

I was pleased with the effort last night, the team is getting better each game (still too many penalties). Watching hockey this year all the games, the calls are atrocious with these ticky tack calls, there is no flow to the games and the intensity and hitting around the league is not there. It's really not enjoyable and this from somebody that loves hockey. Buttman is killing this game!!!!!!! The bolts are getting better each time out, give them time and be patient.

[coach bill]

Totally agree Nick and Mark. Let's hope these sentiments about the refs taking over the game with meaningless penalties will draw enough criticism league wide that Bettman (or the owners) will get back to what got us here. This isn't basketball. Let them play. That's what we pay to see.
Speaking of seeing- hope to see all you bloggers Sat night(25th) at Shots from 6-7:30. So far we'll have Hockey Chic,Don in St Pete, Bingo, Tackleberry w/ Minny Vinny, Olin, and myself. Let me know if you're in so I can give them a count. DC said he'd try to make it also.

[Patricia]

Ok, I am in need of some moral support from my fellow Tampa fans. After watching lastnights game (1st and 2nd period) I need to know if anyone else was just getting so frustrated. I am starting to lose my patience with this team and just don't understand. We have so many forwards, but can't score. We have lack of defense. We have players taking stupid and lazy penalties. I am a huge prospal fan, but last night's penalty was just lazyiness. I don't understand how we can have so many veterans and great players yet still suck!! I need to know that I am not the only Tampa fan having a hard time watching these games. I live in NY and I will say the Isles, they suck! So why didn't couldn't we win that game last night. Are we gonna be the worst team in the NHL again this season?? These owner's have spent so much money on the off season, brought in new players, and we still suck! We can't even blame the goaltending (well except for lastnight:() I just dont get it. Please help me understand fellow Tampa fans!!

[Nick]

The game no matter what teams are playing are not even fun this year. The refs are calling it way to tight. It looks like they have been calling it the same for both teams, but just to tight. It really slows the pace and flow of the game. If we want to watch a slow game with tons of stops in play, we would watch baseball.

[Voice of the Turtle]

Now let's see:

1) The New York Islander Goaltending ace, DiPietro, couldn't play

2) The Bolts were well rested

3) The Bolts were at home

4) There were some key Islander players out of the lineup

5) The Islanders are considered one of the weakest teams in the league

6) The Lightning has lost all three of the games so far and really needed a win

7) Ranger was back in the lineup

8) Coach Melrose and his staff of four coaches had an ample opportunity to work with the players and correct some of the problems that they identified.

9) In spite of the fact that the Rays were busy winning the American League pennant, an enthusiastic crowd showed up to support the team.

10) OK Hockey is shelling out bucks that are darn close to the salary cap to these gentlemen who don the Bolt uniforms.

AND.......

The Lightning lost AGAIN after giving up 10 power plays on minor penalties in a game marked by very little physicality.

[Mark]

Mazzaros looked like a stud, It's nice to see theold ranger back, V4 and V20 stepped up at the right time, and for all it's worth Carle looked like a defenseman. He blocked shots and was making plays. The team seemed to start gelling in the last period and I think there is hope. Smith wouldn't have made the same mistake as Kolig becasue of his awesome puck handling skills, but Olie played as good a game as anyone could expect. Malone still needs to get in shape, but nice for him to get a goal.

Ref's are taking the letter of the law too far, but many of te penalties tonight could have been avoided with better skating and position play. I'm all for hitting and physical game, but let's get the chincy stuff out of our game. time to play with more precision and less scramble.

Thanks for the defense stepping up at opportune times and I hope the forwards start contributing defensively. I love the Lighting and I'm looking forward to a more diciplined team taking us into the rest of the season.

[Tom M]

Does Matt Carle have any atheletically redeeming value? He played so poorly tonight that he looked like a 4th line Pee Wee player.

[Cheese]

It's not about 15-14.....it's about players taking account for their own actions. Your stick should be used for passing and shooting. That's what hockey is about. If a team doesn't get it after a couple years......then who's really at fault? And please believe....I'm not blaming the coaching staff. The game has been called this way for several years......who isn't getting it? The players are ultimately responsible for their own actions. Anyone that thinks otherwise has no understanding. The days of 5 on 5 are not over.....we just need smarter hockey players that are able to adapt.

[Mike]

Bobby Taylor called it correct when he said that the days of five on five hockey might be over. I think this is exactly what Gary Bettman wants. So many penalties that one team is always on the power play and the score is 15 to 14 every night. All these calls are a joke and will do nothing but drive people away from the game.