If a crime was ever committed in this sport, it had to have occurred on national television tonight at the Melon Arena in Pittsburgh. Total larceny, at its' fullest, committed by referee Bill Bcreary.
The Flyers, who came into this game having been called for nine penalties in their game one loss, got the word from coach John Stevens to back off following the whistles, where most penalties are assessed during the scurmishes.
So Phialdelphia played a strong game to their credit, didn't retaliate and actually had the game in their hip pocket until refereee Bill Mcreary decided to call the only penalty of the third period on snake-bitten Flyer forward Jeff Carter for hooking with about four minutes remaining in regulation time.
Pittsburgh took full advantage of Mcreary's petty call and the game was tied 2-2 and headed for OT.
In OT, Pittsburgh was called for two minutes when Hal Gill was nailed for a cross check on Danny Briere. That Flyer powerplay however was shortlived when Mcreary evened the score with a call on Mike Knubble for his cross check in the offensive zone, after the Flyers had finally gained possession of the puck.
That was a very, very selfish undisciplined penalty for the 36 year-old veteran Knubbke to take and if he's still wearing the orange and black for Philadelphia when next season rolls around, I will be very surprised.
As time was running out in the first OT frame, it appeared as though referee Mcreary felt tired and didn't really want to have to officiate another period of hockey tonight, so he decided to nail rookie Claude Giroux for a tap (slash), thereby giving the hometown faithful a two-man advantage in overtime for well over a minute.
They capitalized as was expected and Mcreary was able to get back to his hotel room early, Pittsburgh went up 2-0 in the series and the Flyers were basically robbed.
So you see whether they take nine penalties, as was the case in game one, or tone it down to four in game two, it doesn't really matter because in the end I do believe that Philadelphia will gain the raw end of the deal when all is said and done, each and every time.
Frankly I'm just not sure whether to thank the Penguins or referee Bill Mcreary for my winning wager tonight.
@)
The Flyers, who came into this game having been called for nine penalties in their game one loss, got the word from coach John Stevens to back off following the whistles, where most penalties are assessed during the scurmishes.
So Phialdelphia played a strong game to their credit, didn't retaliate and actually had the game in their hip pocket until refereee Bill Mcreary decided to call the only penalty of the third period on snake-bitten Flyer forward Jeff Carter for hooking with about four minutes remaining in regulation time.
Pittsburgh took full advantage of Mcreary's petty call and the game was tied 2-2 and headed for OT.
In OT, Pittsburgh was called for two minutes when Hal Gill was nailed for a cross check on Danny Briere. That Flyer powerplay however was shortlived when Mcreary evened the score with a call on Mike Knubble for his cross check in the offensive zone, after the Flyers had finally gained possession of the puck.
That was a very, very selfish undisciplined penalty for the 36 year-old veteran Knubbke to take and if he's still wearing the orange and black for Philadelphia when next season rolls around, I will be very surprised.
As time was running out in the first OT frame, it appeared as though referee Mcreary felt tired and didn't really want to have to officiate another period of hockey tonight, so he decided to nail rookie Claude Giroux for a tap (slash), thereby giving the hometown faithful a two-man advantage in overtime for well over a minute.
They capitalized as was expected and Mcreary was able to get back to his hotel room early, Pittsburgh went up 2-0 in the series and the Flyers were basically robbed.
So you see whether they take nine penalties, as was the case in game one, or tone it down to four in game two, it doesn't really matter because in the end I do believe that Philadelphia will gain the raw end of the deal when all is said and done, each and every time.
Frankly I'm just not sure whether to thank the Penguins or referee Bill Mcreary for my winning wager tonight.
@)
