Take a deep breath: The refs are not out the get the Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning have gotten the raw end of the calls in all 3 series.

Have there been bad calls going both ways? Sure
Have a majority of bad calls gone against the lightning? No doubt about it

I’m sure if we high sticked Chara and drew blood it wouldn’t get called.

Marty has gotten a stick to the face how many times without a call?

2 of the Malone calls yesterday were down right criminal.

Don’t forget Anaheim in that rundown.

If the league controlled the outcomes through officiating I am fairly certain that Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa would have triumphed over their ‘sunshine’ opponents.

That fact that this post even exists sure means something.

Have a majority of bad calls gone against the lightning? No doubt about it 2

2 of the Malone calls yesterday were down right criminal. 2

Criminal with a capital everything. CRIMINAL.

Great game back and forth, but I have to ask, has anyone ever seen a team get more lucky bounces and weird scoring chances? Honestly, has Tampa Bay had one good regular hard fought goal yet this round?
1st goal, Bruins asleep
2nd goal, cannot believe the referree fell for Downie pulling Chara into a last minute penalty. Bolts will take that trade all day.
3rd goal, incredibly weak five hole from Timmy
4th goal, Stamkos down the wing with the puck on it’s side, off Thomas and in (this one’s not bad)
5th goal, the maskless goaltender and scramble.

And last game come on, scramble and a puck kicked right to Bergenheim, whole team falls asleep off the faceoff, and Kaberle basically puts one in his own net.

All their good scoring chances have been incredible saves from Thomas, and everything that looks harmless, Boom, in the back of the net.

All this buttoning and unbuttoning

by Marttisdad on May 18, 2011 7:51 AM EDT reply actions

I disagree with it on two points.

First, a caveat: I don’t believe the refs are “out to get” the Bolts. The League just isn’t that nefarious.

However, the fact the Bolts made the ECF isn’t evidence of the penalty calling against the Bolts. I believe bias is still there.

The second point is there is evidence of such a bias. Please note the number of times the Bolts have been penalized: 71 times through 13 games—#1 in the league in the post season. Compare that, if you will with the regular season. During the 82 games, the Bolts took 379 penalties—an average of 4.62 penalties per game.

No other team has that sort of turnaround, discipline-wise. What else can explain it? As Spock once said, “Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

Get off our Boards, Boston Trolls. (Sorry if you think Cornelius is a “good guy”, Cassie.)

Sveet – Relax, man. The refs certainly didn’t help, but the Lightning didn’t deserve to win given their play for most of the game.

I’m frankly emboldened that we’re the better team after last night. The Bruins almost choked in a game where we saw their best effort and our worst, for the vast majority of play. It’ll continue to be an interesting series, but Bruins fans can’t feel too good about their team if they’re being honest with themelves.

But I think the possibility for some bias is certainly there. Think: the Lightning are a sunbelt team, a smaller market, have been horrible the last few years, plus they beat a Canadian team in the Finals a few years ago. Not exactly a reputation that will earn any breaks.

Couple that with the fact that they have played the NHL’s darlings of late, the Penguins and the Capitals, and one of the larger markets in the game, Boston, then it would certainly seem like there’s reason to think that NHL bigwigs would at least prefer the other teams over Tampa Bay.

Is it an outright conspiracy? Probably not, but I think there may still be some underlying, perhaps even subconscious, favoritism against the Bolts based on reputation.