After over a half-century of watching National Hockey League games, I've witnessed innumerable cases of officiating disputes. Last night's episode in Carolina was one of the most egregious controversies.
Controversy envelops Game Two of the Isles-Cane series. Is anybody right?
After over a half-century of watching National Hockey League games, I've witnessed innumerable cases of officiating disputes. Last night's episode in Carolina was one of the most egregious controversies.
It's inevitable because refereeing in hockey is arguably the most difficult, frustrating, and thankless job in captivity.
Hockey is the fastest team game in the world. Players are bigger than ever and the combination of speed, size, and the inability of referees to see everything in a split second is a physical impossibility that makes 100% accuracy a dream.
And, assuming that a referee does actually see a controversial play, he then has to instantly process it in his brain and either blow or not blow his whistle -- this fast!
When the Islanders' Scott Mayfield was high sticked in overtime of Game Two last night in Raleigh none of the officials blew his whistle. On the ensuing play, Jesper Fast scored, and the Islanders were down two games to none.
The Islanders considered the non-call unfair since it was the turning point in the game and, conceivably, the series. It also seemed obvious on replay but not to everyone.
READ MORE: Missed High-Stick Call in OT Cost Islanders
Not surprisingly, Islanders fans insist an injustice was done; that a penalty should have been called against the Canes. Whether they are right or wrong is -- sad to say -- irrelevant in terms of changing the game's outcome.
What matters is that for the past 30 years of the Bettman Administration, the NHL has been meticulously working to improve its officiating by electronic means and better schooling of the zebras, among many other techniques.
Never in the long league history have more attempts been made to make calls -- or no calls -- as accurate as possible; and still, there are disagreements.
Which brings to mind a post-game question I once put to former Isles coach Jack Capuano after a controversial call went against his skaters.
"What can you do about it?" I asked.
I liked his answer: "I hope that over the season, it all evens out for us."
In the case of last night's game in which six penalties were called against the Visitors and none against the home team, those were the calls that were made and all Lane Lambert can do is grin and bear it. The game cannot be replayed.
What's done is done. And as I've said before -- with or without musical accompaniment -- the Isles have to pick themselves up; dust themselves off; and start all over again.
Or, as Lord Stanley of Preston would say: "That's Hockey!"