Replays, Home Ice and the FBI

Gentlemen. Ladies. Hello again.

A couple of quick things. First of all, I did watch Game 4. I just didn't comment much on it because, well, I didn't have the time.

One thing I saw that reminded me why I love the NHL is their use of replay. Boston's 4th goal was an odd one. It was deflected at the net and looked a little odd. It may have been disallowed for two reasons. First, if it was kicked in or 2, if it was hit into the net at a point above the crossbar. Real time looked like a good goal, but was it? Thus brings in something I think the NHL does better than any other pro-sport: replay.

Every single goal is looked at under video review ever single time. They don't always announce it because it's generally pretty clear, but they will delay a faceoff it needed. And, even better, if the video judge is unclear about the validity of a goal, he can call "The War Room" in Toronto and the big wigs take a look too. Not just a guy and a monitor.



None of this silly flag throwing. It's not just for homeruns. I don't really know what the standards are for the NBA, but the NHL has it right. The human element is still in the game, which is necessary. There are some games where the Referee's sorta "let 'em play" and the whistle is pretty much kept in the pocket except for obvious penalties. Is this right? Technically it shouldn't be, but it is fair in the context of an individual game.

I will do a longer post later about the glories of NHL replay later. That goal in Boston counted by the way.

The series is tied up and I do not think I will be able to see Game 5 tonight due to prior engagments.

Seeing as I do not have a favorite in this series, I hope the Stanley Cup is hoisted on home ice. The last time that was done was 2007 when the Ducks held in Anaheim. The last three have all been won in enemy territory.



I always like to see champions crowned at home when possible. Hopefully, that happens this year and the FBI doesn't have to investigate anything with the playoffs again.



You didn't hear about that?

Ever since the Cup-winning puck got stuck underneath the padding in the back of the net to end Game 6 in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, there has been controversy and speculation as to its current whereabouts. Amid the confusion involving the video review and the subsequent celebrations, the Cup-winning puck got lost in all that chaos. Because it ended the Blackhawks' then-record for the longest active Cup drought, it is considered a valuable piece of sport memorabilia. So much so, a Chicago based restaurant has offered a $50,000 reward for it, as well as the FBI has been called in to investigate the case.

Video and pictures taken from the game indicate that linesman Steve Miller was the first person who took the puck after the game-winning goal was scored, but he denies knowing where it eventually went. As a result of an ESPN story about the controversy on April 21, 2011, the league relived Miller of his 2011 postseason duties for more than a week, citing that the controversy was a potential distraction during the playoffs. In reinstating Miller, the league said it is standing by him and his story.

I can't imagine how the FBI could be distracting...



TTFN