[ThePundit]

Again!!!

If I see an inept referee stand behind the goal and disallow an Islander goal just one more time, I'm going to put my foot right through the TV. The ineptness of hockey officiating is un-freaking-real!!!!!!!!!!

1) This nit witted referee said that Miller was pushed in the net. The puck was in well BEFORE, he got pushed. What a freakin' joke.

2) Last game, Tom Poti gets a double minor because of an inadvertent stick to the face. Fine. I didn't complain.

In this game, Numinenn drives Jason Blakes head right into the boards from behind and the ref calls a MINOR PENALTY!! Hello...That's a MAJOR 5 minute power play.

I GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Isles2279]

I honestly believe that if this had been a regular season game, that call would have gone uncontested. The truth is our guys are giving a great effort, but we are being consistently outplayed now. I'm amazed we have been able to make things as close as they have been considering:
....Park, Hilbert, and Robitaille are all heart. They give their best every minute of every game, BUT they have almost zero talent.
....Kozlov, Satan, and Yashin have very little heart. They give their best about one minute of every game, BUT they have all the talent a player could ask for.
....DP missed more than two weeks with two concussions
....I can't think of more than two of our starting players that would make the 4th line of Buffalo
....without Martinek, our defense is average....Bruno and Campoli are quick but relatively inexperienced. Witt and Hill are very good, but Hill is old, both are banged up, and neither can keep up with the fast Sabres forwards. BTW, Poti has been awful lately. That giveaway in front of the net with 1:12 remaining made me sick.

Its amazing that we have made every game competitive, and that is a reflection of just how great a coach Nolan is. I love watching these guys, and I'll be sad to see the season end, but overall we are slow and old. I'm looking forward to seeing Tambellini, Nielsen, and Okapasu replace Park, Hilbert, and whoever else happens to be dumped. I think its a safe bet that we will say goodbye to Smyth, which hurts since we gave up way too much by trading Nilsson and OMeara. I know Bates has a fat contract, but I hope he has played his last game as an Islander along with Kozlov, Satan, Yashin, and Park. Blake will probably re-sign, but if he doesn't then I'm sure Colliton, Comeau, or a free agent will replace him and we'll be fine. Things are looking up Islander fans. Nolan's reputation will draw bigger name free agents to the team, our cap room is looking good, we have good young talent ready to take the ice next year, an amzingly talented goalie, and with each passing season we are all one step closer to the end of Alexei Yashin's contract.

Pretty soon we can look forward each season to competing for a chance to be eliminated in the Conference Finals by the Penguins who, after next year, will probably win 10-15 Cups in a row.

[blueandwhite]

Okay, i couldn't see that the puck was in well before Miller was pushed. It looks like they shove him in with the puck beneath him - you can't do that.
But the problem was over the whistle blow and how it was a late whistle and that often used excuse - I meant to blow the whistle about 5 seconds back. Which crazily enough, refs can officially use.
The Numinen call - it looked embellished by Blake.
But I don't want to get you too worked up. because right now EVERYTHING looks embellished to me. Lecavalier got a stick in the face yesterday and didn't get up vs. jersey and I thought, You're milking this.
Anyway- I know the frustration with refs - leafs are at the fuzzy end of that lollipop all the time - but i think that goal was wonky.

[ThePundit]

Okay, I'm a little calmer today.

Blue: I don't think Blake embellished that play. He missed most of the 2nd period. Your head into the boards is your head into the boards.

Isles2279. Here's my take:

1) Park is a good penalty killer and a perfect 4th line center. I hope he comes back.

2) Hilbert is terrible. I don't care how hard he plays.

3) Robataille is way too soft for my liking.

4) Yashin - don't let the door hit you on the way out.

5) Satan-He was very mediocre and soft during the season - he had the worse +,- on the team. But he played harder and much better in the playoffs. Not sure what his contract status is but maybe they can move him for a faster player. Or if his deal is up, they should let him walk.

6) I'm not as down on Kozlov as you. Sure he should haveplay harder at times, but I really thought he's played pretty well in the playoffs and he has so much offense talent. I would bring him back.

7) How do you know Ryan Smyth won't sign here? after all he let Edmonton deal hiim because of relative pennies. Athletes can always say what they want but in 98% of the cases, the take the MONEY. Wong will throw a ton of money at him and make him C.

And even if they don't sign him, I don't think it's the end of the world. I've sen enough of Nielsen to know he's going to be a bust and although I've never seen O'Meara play, word is that at best, he'll be a good player, not a great player.

8. They have to add speedier forwards. Is Zednik under contract? I hope not. That was a waste.

9. I think Poti has played very well this year. Sure he made some mistakes this series but he also made the pass on the 1st goal. I hope they re-sign him.

10. Hill served his purpose but you're right, he's too old and can't keep up.

11. They better bring back Brendan Witt. As a hockey player, he has very few skills but he's the toughest guy they've ever had in front of the net.

Anyway, I haven't given up on this series yet. Crazier stuff has happened. And I have game 6 tix....

[blazinsabrez61]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Again!!!

If I see an inept referee stand behind the goal and disallow an Islander goal just one more time, I'm going to put my foot right through the TV. The ineptness of hockey officiating is un-freaking-real!!!!!!!!!!

1) This nit witted referee said that Miller was pushed in the net. The puck was in well BEFORE, he got pushed. What a freakin' joke.

2) Last game, Tom Poti gets a double minor because of an inadvertent stick to the face. Fine. I didn't complain.

In this game, Numinenn drives Jason Blakes head right into the boards from behind and the ref calls a MINOR PENALTY!! Hello...That's a MAJOR 5 minute power play.

I GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow man u gotta relax!! the refs r always horrendous, but u make them sound like they were against the isles the whole time, when its usually the other way around. a couple things:

1.) actually, the no goal was a good call. miller was pushed into the net. and u have 2 remember that in order for a review to be overturned, the evidence has to be CONCLUSIVE. no offense, but i dont know how u could have called that a goal. the only time u saw it was after the whistle was blown, in the back of the net. even if the goal was allowed, the isles would have still lost because of pominville's late goal, so dont get 2 worked up. its over, and u cant change what happened.

2.) and come on, dont complain about Blake! he pushed himself into the boards with what looked like a punishing blow by numminen. but u have 2 no that teppo is not a physical guy, and he would never do that to another player. it was embellished a lot. no penalty, no pwer play, no kidding.

i no that if the same thing happened to the sabres, u would probably be telling me the same thing, so dont get 2 pissed, ok? but thats what REALLY happened. good luck to the isles friday. they need all the luck they can get.

[blazinsabrez61]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

Okay, i couldn't see that the puck was in well before Miller was pushed. It looks like they shove him in with the puck beneath him - you can't do that.
But the problem was over the whistle blow and how it was a late whistle and that often used excuse - I meant to blow the whistle about 5 seconds back. Which crazily enough, refs can officially use.
The Numinen call - it looked embellished by Blake.
But I don't want to get you too worked up. because right now EVERYTHING looks embellished to me. Lecavalier got a stick in the face yesterday and didn't get up vs. jersey and I thought, You're milking this.
Anyway- I know the frustration with refs - leafs are at the fuzzy end of that lollipop all the time - but i think that goal was wonky.

thank u, blueandwhite! u see, ThePundit, i no im not the only one who feels the same way.

[ThePundit]

Why should I be calm?

Regarding Blake:
[quote]But with 53 seconds left in that first period, Blake was crushed face-first into the boards by Buffalo's Teppo Numminen and had to be helped off the ice. When the second period began, Blake was still backstage. It wasn't until about eight minutes remained in the middle period that Blake came back onto the playing surface......Blake was unavailable for comment following the game, receiving treatment in the trainer's room. He emerged momentarily and was wearing a large apparatus around his chest, suggesting that he may have injured his back or ribs rather than his head......"If that wasn't a hit from behind, I don't know what is," Nolan said, suggesting that Numminen should have received a harsher penalty than the two minutes for boarding that he was slapped with.[/QUOTE]
Blake takes hit and offense develops a headache - Newsday.com

THE GOAL
Watch the replay of the goal, again. Miller never had the puck. It was CLEARLY loose under his but and the Islanders pushed at it, both the puck and him went in the net.

And Blazin'....The play wasn't reviewed in Toronto. They were only on the phone with the ref because they wanted to see if the play was reviewable. Once the ref said Miller was pushed in, it wasn't reviewable.

And are you telling me that was a penalty against Robataille? The Sabres are better, but be fair. Do I think it's a consipiracy against the Islanders like Brendan Witt?

I whacked it through the five-hole," Witt said. "Miller was shoved in after it went ... You could easily say they don't want us in the series. I hope they're not doing it on purpose."

Isles can't buy a break - Newsday.com

No - but 3 freaking times in the last few weeks this has happened.

Call them paranoid, but if you talk to Islanders officials, they will offer you chapter and verse on why they feel they have good reason to believe the NHL powers that be are aligned against a franchise that once won four straight Stanley Cups. Now, they get no respect.

According to general manager Garth Snow, he has seen the evidence since he joined the franchise as backup goaltender in 2001. But coach Ted Nolan has seen enough in his one season at the helm to convince him the Isles always get the short end of the stick.

Islanders not getting any respect - Newsday.com

And you're wrong...I would say the same exact thing if roles were reversed. I hate when the Islanders win when the referees make bad calls. Blue will tell you that. The Islanders beat her Leafs a couple of months ago on a ridiculous 'Unininted interference call" or something retarted like that...And I killed the refs.

You can't kick the puck out of the goalie's glove and then shove him into the net. That isn't how you score goals. Pominville was nice enough to show you guys what real goals look like, in case you'd forgotten.

The ref saw it, the replays showed it, and Toronto confirmed it. Sorry.

[blueandwhite]

hey imagine that - Nolan was incensed - of course he was incensed, that's his job. he's never going to say,
yeah that wasn't a goal.
And blazin is right - Numinen is not a physical player. Blake is.
i don't know what goes on in the trainer's room, but during playoffs every player is an actor, and you suck the moment for what it is worth.
And regarding this:
Watch the replay of the goal, again. Miller never had the puck. It was CLEARLY loose under his butt and the Islanders pushed at it, both the puck and him went in the net.
If Miller was pushed into the net, regardless of whether the puck was too, it's not a goal.
It's called interference. And the ref probably had no idea where the puck was. I understand being pissed, because what a pivotal time to have a goal called back - but you cannot be surprised that it was called back.

[bossy4president]

I read through all these posts and I want to reply to all the points that were raised, but.......I'm speechless today. It's just plain sickening. Between the Chris Simon incident, Ted Nolan, and Witt's complaints to Toronto about the officiating. The NHL would NEVER let the Islanders beat "thier" best team. We were out of this series before it even began.

Is there ever going to be a day when all sports stop using these guys that never got picked in gym class as refs? What's the world coming to? They want that spotlight. That's how they get THIER name in the papers. Look at the NBA ref that threw out one of the best players (Tim Duncan) for laughing on the bench after a technical foul call. Now on to last nights idiot. What does it take for someone to say, "hey, it's a pivital time in this game, let's take a look and make sure we get this call right."? I can't get that stupid idiot's waving armed face out of my head. He knew in his head that the call he made is unreviewable. How hard would it have been to just blow the play dead and review it? It was a bonehead call. If that was in the Islanders crease, DP would've got trampled on until the ref SAW the puck in the net before he blows his whistle. I got a question.......If you're watching for a puck to cross a goal line, how is it that all you see is the play of Satan in FRONT OF THE CREASE lunge toward a goalie and push him in? The play should've been whistled dead (which he did, after the puck was in") then at least it's reviewable, and if in fact they feel that it was pushed in (which it wasn't) then call it a no-goal. That my argument on the subject. HE MADE THE WRONG CALL !!!!!!! Goal or no-goal it was the wrong call. If he was looking where he should've been he would've never made that call. The call in my eyes is evidence enough that the ref had his head up his ass. He didn't want to see that puck cross that line.

[blueandwhite]

I respect you guys being mad, so I'm not arguing - I'm throwing this out - doesn't everyone think their team is the most unfairly treated? The Leafs had a real bad year ref-wise, and all i could think, game after game, was, Why us?

The only thing I will say against what you wrote was, Do you really think someone somewhere said, Don't let the Islanders beat the sabres? because that almost sounds - paranoid.

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by buffalofan

You can't kick the puck out of the goalie's glove and then shove him into the net.

Now they kicked it out of his glove?

Mr. Buffalo fan, It was never in his glove.

Soon I'm going to hear from a Buffalo fan that they punched Miller in the face, ripped the puck out of his glove and threw it in the net.

And Blue: Because Numinen is not a physical player, that means he didn't board Blake? Yeah - Blake is physical so he rammed his own head into the boards. Come back to me please!!!!

[blueandwhite]

re numinen-i'm just more surprised than anything that he would pick that moment to play like Chris neil. He's not a stupid player, either. And i watched Tie Domi fake stuff like that all the time. Tucker is so clumsy he's constantly falling into the boards.
They say the bad calls work out - some against you, some for you.
it's very emotional. I still hate brodeur for not playing that last game of the regular season and he did nothing wrong.
It's a tough series - but saying the paranoid stuff, the league has it against us stuff - that takes it away from Buffalo's skill as a team.

[ThePundit]

I never said that Buffalo wasn't a better team. And I've said that it's not a conspiracy. But let's call a spade a spade.

No Buffalo fan, at least on this board, has even given into the possibility that it was a goal. What's wrong with saying that the Sabres got a break? I do it when the Islanders get a call that goes their way.

Joe Beningo, host of talk radio WFAN who is a big Ranger fan and hates the Islanders even said that it was a goal and the Isles have gotten screwed this series - 3 different times - in HUGE spots.

If it happened once, okay? But 3 different times?

Anyway, it's going to be so good when the Isles come back and win this series. Like they did in 1980. The Sabres had the best record in hockey and the Islanders put them away and started their 4 cup run.

Goal or not, you don't shove over the goalie when he's going for it. That's called interference. The play was reviewed over and over again by lots of different people and it was still considered "no goal." I'll agree that the Islanders are screwed over by the NHL when I actually see it happening, not when they're just mad that they lost.