[tigerthelion]

Fantastic game tonight! What really made it fun to watch was that the officials put their whistles away for the most part and allowed both teams to play some exciting, end-to-end hockey. It was incredibly refreshing. My Flames have finally found their game and are currently riding a 4-game winning streak. We're getting goals from all over the place, the defence has been much better, and Kipper is starting to look like his old self again. Things are definitely looking up in Cowtown.

Looks like Kipper just needed some time.

I watched the Nucks/Bruins game last night. It was atrociously boring,but I was very pleased with the officiating. The players are 100% at fault for making it boring. The officials get an A+ rating from me. After the game, Gary Valk whined about the Bruins not getting called for enough penalties. Valk needs to STFU. It's guys like Valk that are trying to completely ruin the game. :nooooo

It's quite simple:

MORE PENALTIES = BAD
LESS PENALTIES = GOOD

Most of the penalties called, like you said, are shitty ticky tack calls. I'm sure that Habs fans and Red Wings fans love it when their theam gets powerplay after powerplay because they are so weak on their skates, but it's bad for hockey.

So do you think they should go back to the pre-lockout days when clutching and grabbing were all the rage? Cause that was exciting hockey :roll:. Enforcing the rules gives the skilled players more opportunities to display their skill, which is where most of the excitement in the game comes from.

I agree that the refs aren't the problem. We're into the 4th season since the lockout, you'd think the players would have learned what is and isn't a penalty by now...

Problem is, the refs are calling a lot of penalties on plays that ARE NOT REALLY PENALTIES. And, for the record, I don't find this post lockout hockey any more exciting than the pre lockout hockey. I guess I'm in the minority.

I was saying that the refs in that one particular game were A+. In most games I have watched this year, I'd say that refs have deserved a rating of C-.

Today's hockey, where a midget like Koivu or Briere can stand in front of a net unharmed, are so much more exciting, aren't they? :nooooo :nooooo

I guess, in a way, the refs are scared of losing their jobs so they have to call penalty after penalty. In that regard, I suppose that I have a little bit of empathy for the position that they're in. Damn the NHL and the NHLPA and pussies like Brett Hull, who whined and whined and whined about being held.