Game Notes are topics we feel need more Clutter from each game as they were either an important part of the game or brought up a topic that could use deeper explanation.
Here are the Game Notes from Tuesday night’s Wild game against the Calgary Flames:
Game Notes
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Bad Penalty Calls
There was no call when Joel Eriksson Ek got mauled after doing nothing but just being near the Calgary goalie then Ryan Hartman got 2 penalties for doing the same thing against a player who bumped his teammate after the whistle. That doesn’t compute. Hartman deserved one penalty there and he should be a lot more subtle with his retaliation techniques.
Marcus Foligno was called for a slashing penalty when the player he supposedly slashed was the one who brought his stick up to Foligno’s stick but Mangiapane’s stick broke and that seems to be a sign for the officials to call slashing. Hopefully they review all of their calls with the head of officials and adjust even when those are hard calls to make because they happen so fast. That being said, the puck was there so the officials should see the whole play.
To us, the biggest problem with these calls and non-calls is that every official will call it differently. If that is the case and it sure seems like it is then how are the teams, players and coaches supposed to know what they can or can’t do during a game?
Do all the officials tell both teams at the beginning of the games what they will and won’t call? Not likely as that would probably take a while.
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Should this have been off-sides?
We alluded to the Cale Makar goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year but, this is not the same exact play. The only thing similar to that play is what defines “possession of the puck” and the only thing we could find in the NHL Rulebooks for 2021-22 & 2022-23 for “Possession of the Puck” is this:
Possession of the Puck – What is it?
So… if Jared Spurgeon was off-sides… then is this off-sides?
That play was called on-sides so what’s the difference? And that my friends is the big problem with the NHL. Those two plays are exactly the same.
The puck comes off each player’s stick then their skates go over the line then they regain control of the puck but one is called off-sides and one is called on-sides. How can that be? NHL? Gary Bettman? Anyone? Bueller?
They won’t answer me. Do the teams inquire about this? Do they get an answer?
The only thing we could think that somewhat explains possession of the puck is what happens on a delayed penalty. The play will be whistled down as soon as the team getting called for the penalty gains possession of the puck.
If you’ve watched a lot of hockey then you’ve seen that rule called very differently, too. One official will blow the play dead when a player just gets the tip of his stick blade on the puck where another official won’t blow it dead there.
That must be infuriating for coaches and players because it’s inconsistent and all they want is to know what a rule is and what it isn’t.
Define the Rules!
What would a lawyer do? 🤔 …
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It’s Tourney Time!!!
The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament will begin today at 11am on KSTC Channel 45 (812 on cable) with the Single-A bracket, Hermantown against Luverne.
Here’s the rest of the Single-A bracket courtesy of The Rink Live:
The Double-A bracket begins tomorrow at 11am with Maple Grove against Cretin-Derham Hall:
Who you got, “Puckers?
Let us know in the comments!
––––– CP –––––
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