Found May 08, 2009 on
MVN:
I know I'm biased, but come on now.
You can't tell me that there isn't an agenda by the refs. For the first 30 minutes of the game, the Caps were playing 5 on 7. After scoring in the first minute of the game, the Caps had the momentum and could have silenced the crowd and the Pens. Then Chris Clark bumps into somebody... whistle!! The entire context of the game was changed. It's ridiculous.
All of Pittsburgh is calling for Alex Ovechkin's head after the BODY-on-knee hit to Sergei Gonchar. Now, I like Gonchar and it sucks for him that he's hurt, but that WAS NOT a penalty. Ovechkin hit him. It was a legal hit. Ovechkin DID NOT stick his leg out. If he did, then it was dirty and it should have been a major penalty, but he did not.
I'm not as disappointed in the Caps play as I was after Game 3. They played better, but they still make the dumbest turnovers and if not for Varlamov saving their bacon time after time, they would be in a huge hole. It was tough watching Varly give up the bad goal, but after all he has done in the past 3 weeks, he can let in a softy. He's earned it.
Now, I'm not quite sure what to do with Alex Semin. The guy has been completely taken out of his game and he is not handling it well. In the past 3 games, he's been pretty bad and must have more turnovers than shots on net. He refuses to make the smart play and that has got to change.
All in all, this could have been a completely different game had the refs just let the guys play early on. I know the Caps 3rd goal should not have counted and Matt Bradley committed about 3 penalties in about 20 seconds, but we were owed a play like that. Except for the bad one by Varly and the 5th goal, the Caps defense made horrible plays that cost us. That has to change or it won't matter how the game is called.
It's time to go back to simple hockey. The Penguins may have the momentum, but the Caps have home ice and it's now a best of 3. Just win your home games and we'll be fine. It will not be easy as Pitt has often played better and have been the better team. If we lose to a better team (or a team just a little more experienced), then I can accept that. This won't be the last time these two teams face each other. But the refs have to get it right. Anyone watching these games, with the exception of Penguin fans, have to see that these teams are pretty even and there is no way the Pens should have twice as many PP's as the Caps do. None.
Let the players on the ice determine the game... please!
Original Story:
http://mvn.com/capitalscorner/2009/05...
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