Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the majority of this game. No I wasn't running errands or watching baseball. The local NBC channel here in Northern California interrupt the NHL broadcast to alert viewers of the possibility of impending tornadoes. Granted, the tornadoes eventually showed up, and I get that you have to alert people of dangerous weather situations, especially after the tragedy in Joplin, MO a couple weeks ago.
But as a hockey fan, it's annoying and I still would like the option to flip to CNBC, Versus or another cable channel while the local news team figures out if, where and when the tornado or tornadoes will touch down.
I missed the biting incident, and the dive, so I really can't comment on those things too much. From midway through the first until early in the third I was left in the dark about the hockey game, because of the weather. Come on mother nature, it's the Stanley Cup Finals!
But of the small portion I did see, it was great, and maybe I only missed the boring slow methodical stuff, because what I saw was a fast-paced franticality. Both goalies were great, Thomas stellar, and the goal that got by, well, it be nice if he had help, but he played Sedin for the shot and looked to bite a tad early.
There's been talk of the game-winning goal that Kessler was offside. Instead of just arguing opinions, let's look at the rule book, from NHL.com:
83.1 Off-side - Players of the attacking team must not precede the puck into the attacking zone.
The position of the player’s skates and not that of his stick shall be the determining factor in all instances in deciding an off-side. A player is off-side when both skates are completely over the leadingedge of the blue line involved in the play.
A player is on-side when either of his skates are in contact with, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leadingedge of the blueline regardless of the position of his stick. However, a player actually controlling the puck who shall cross the line ahead of the puck shall not be considered “off-side,” provided he had possession and control of the puck prior to his skates crossing the blue line.
It should be noted that while the position of the player’s skates is what determines whether a player is “off-side,” nevertheless the question of an “off-side” never arises until the puck has completely crossed the leading edge of the blueline at which time the decision is to be made.
Based on those rules and the play in question, it would appear that as long as Kessler had any part of one skate on the blue line when the puck crossed he's fine.
However, if you're still not convinced, take a look at the photo above.
So for me it's pretty clear that Kessler was onside, and the goal counted as it should and there shouldn't be any argument, at least not on that play. The differences come with the biting incident and the dive.
I saw a replay of the biting of the incident, but have not seen the dive play/call.
I think if Burrows bit Patrice Burgeron, while not all that bad, why? What purpose does it serve? For me all that really shows is immaturity and begins to solidify the cheap antics that Vancouver is and been accused of throughout the playoffs.
My other question is if they are cheap, dirty plays/antics that Vancouver is instituting, that's disturbing. It's one thing to do things within the rules to gain the benefit in your favor. It's another to play cheap and dirty to gain the advantage, especially when you have all the talent needed to win the cup WITHOUT all that.
Is the biting incident enough to warrant a suspension? Probably not. Should Burrows be suspended? Yes, just because it's so stupid. Yeah, it's kinda funny, but at the same time it was so unnecessary.
Oh and by the way, yes, I made up that word "Franticality."
Sara Spraker Alexis Bledel Kim Kardashian China Chow Alecia Elliott
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