Thursday was an exciting game played by two division rivals, the Phoenix Coyotes and that other team.
That other team, the Peasants, want to qualify for a playoff spot while the Coyotes are trying to hold their position. As advertised it was a tightly checked, goalie showcase where defense matters most.
Right in Dave Tippett’s wheel house if you ask me.
Martin Hanzal scored a goal on the power play that was reviewed due to a possible high stick. The goal was reviewed and it was ruled in the Coyotes’ favor.
Gnashing of teeth ensued. But did the Peasants do anything about it?
If they did, they should have not allowed the 2-0 breakaway that allowed Stempniak to push the lead to 2 and enabled Ilya Bryzgalov to get the shut out.
We know this, but the team and their fans do not, and that fandom includes the general manager of the Peasants, Not-Vince-Lombardi.
You see, Not-Vince-Lombardi derided the decision that took the NHL War-Room five minutes to discuss. Not-Vince-Lombardi said, “ZOMG!!!!!11!!!11one! BIAS BIAS BIAS! Dude that Murphy guy wanted my job so he’s been screwing me over since. Yeah, that ‘s why that other team won! Wah! Tissues!”
(I’ll interrupt this rant to give mad props to Rich Hammond for bringing this to light on their website. Even though the Peasants pay his salary, he’s still a journalist.)
The NHL saw to it that he’ll have to pay a little bit, and at least Not-Vince-Lombardi became a man and apologized to NHL VP Mike Murphy. The head coach is still complaining.
But here’s the thing, I think the Coyotes have experienced some stupidity as well and no one said “boo” about it. The Coyotes have two injured D-men where the team should have gotten the benefit of power play time. Charlie Brown from the Hamilton Fig Leaves should have gotten an interference call, at least for his hit on Ed Jovanovski.
But he didn’t. Just got suspended.
Kristy Nichol left his feet against and clocked David Schlemko in the head. He’s out with an “undisclosed” injury. Note, they don’t want to say “concussion” because then there’s a bunch of protocol that must be followed, but he’s still out nonetheless. Did Kristy Nichol get a charging penalty or even a roughing penalty with an intentional blow to the head?
No, just got suspended.
So the Coyotes don’t get any benefit from potential power play opportunities to supercharge their offense, but the perps get suspensions. Did head coach Dave Tippett whine? Did General Manager Don Maloney cry foul and carry on with a tantrum?
Nope, because ladies and gentlemen, these are men. Those Peasants over there can’t do much about their situation so they cry about it. In fact, Tippett and company rarely complain about calls to the media. They usually say, “Our guys have to stop committing penalties to win hockey games.” They squarely put the onus on the players and not on situations they cannot control.
Maybe it’s the reason why the Coyotes have a better internal makeup and psychology to handle the swings of the NHL and seem to win as much as they can while the Peasants, well, the team’s fragile make up has a root cause in leadership.
We should bring tissue boxes to the game tonight because it should be a good one. Coyotes should put this group down once and for all.
Because the only way to make these guys stop whining is to point at the scoreboard with another victory.
Go Coyotes!
Original Story:
http://onefansperspective.com/2011/01...
