Officiating in the Third Period Was "Disgusting"
It seems like many of the Rangers felt the same way starting with John Tortorella (via Andrew Gross)...
"I'm not sure if NBC got together with the refs or what to turn this into an overtime game. It started with the non-call on Gaby's, and he gets pitchforked in the stomach and everything starts going against us. So for two good refs, I thought the game was reffed horribly. So I'm not sure what happened there. Maybe they wanted to get into overtime. I'm not sure if they had meetings about that or what. But we stood in there. We stood in there. And again, I don't want to—because they are good guys. I just thought tonight, it was—in that third period, it was disgusting."
...the sad thing is Torts will probably be fined for those comments. Which would be even more disgusting.
Here's the rest of Torts' post game press conference...
For Henrik Lundqvist & Glen Sather's reaction as well as video of McDonagh not covering his hand on the puck in the crease click the "Read More" tab below.
Henrik Lundqvist agreed...
"You know, it would have been tough to swallow that one if they scored (on penalty shot). But luckily he didn't, and I think there was a couple of calls in the end there where I was really surprised, I must say. But, again, we came up big in the end with the penalty kill and just the way we worked."
And you know it was a big deal when Glen Sather chimes in...
“I didn’t think the game would come down to that situation. You see three or four calls that are enough to blow your mind…Look at all of it.”
...talking to a couple of friends after the game about this and they felt the blatant attempt by the refs to effect this game left a really bad taste in their mouth about the Winter Classic. The game is obviously about promoting the sport of hockey, but when the NHL is purposely trying to fix the outcome of the game I think it's going too far.
Here's video of McDonagh not putting his hand on the puck in the crease and the resulting penalty shot by Danny Briere on Lundqvist...
Ryan Callahan discusses insane holding the stick penalty on him (at 8 second mark)...
...yeah, he was holding the stick, with his neck. Unreal.
Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
If "the integrity of the game" is anything more than cliche, the NHL will have an arms-length investigation of the refereeing in this game. Did someone lean on the refs? Did money change hands? Was there a deliberate fix and did it extend beyond on-ice officials? Those are questions that have to be answered.
Yo, REF.....why would anybody TRY to get a penalty, in the last few minutes of a game.....when you're winning the game !?!? Sooooo STUPID !!! Come on REF, where did you get yer ref license from ???? PHILLY ?????!!!!...Go Rangers GO !!!!
It didn't matter. No matter what they tried. We had the King in net. So Proud to be a Rangers fan! Let's go Rangers!!!
Those bullshyt penalties that where overcome proved who the better team was! Let's go RANGERS!!
1 Like
The officiating was a disgrace. Even though we won I cannot accept it. I cannot imagine the possibilities. We put our hearts and souls into this team, sacrifice our lives and to imagine that our boys can do everything right, they can play by the rules and keep refusing to lose until finally one gets in and changes everything. I watched the game again today on the NHL Network announced from Canada, what a pleasure. The names of the guys I do not know but if you listen to them they couldn't believe it either. They said things like "They're making it up as they go along" or "I cannot believe what I'm seeing right now" They referenced the "Bad Call" on Mcdonough delay of game and pointed out that the Ref standing over the goal during the mystery Penalty Shot call didn't call for it. I don't understand why these referees do not have to answer for themselves. Dispicable, Torts said it perfect....."disgusting", and to imagine our playoffs could end with this being a possibility.......and the NHL has no comment?
@thenyrblog - Happy we won, but sickened the thought that these games are rigged. Bettman's killing the game to increase market share.
I agree that the bad calls in the homestretch call the refs' integrity into question and the league should be embarrassed that first-time viewers now think professional hockey can be fixed. But I think the call on Cally was warranted--as soon as the stick came across him he reached up for it and his feet stopped rather than trying to just skate through it; he was overselling a legit hook. I don't blame him for trying but Cally's a freight train, that stick doesn't stop him from moving forward like that, and if he really wanted it off, he doesn't pinch the stick to his body like he did (before bringing it up to his neck), he'd have just lifted the stick up and over his head or ducked under it. The rest of the calls and non-calls were horrible.
that delay of game on McD really ruffled my feathers. I refuse to believe that not a single ref on the ice saw him get blatantly PUSHED into the net. So glad our boys came out on top and showed Philly and those freaking refs where to shove it.
Guess Ian Walsh wasn't able to pay off his bookie after this one... The obvious bias in the nhl is a joke
2 Like
Why no auto-goal for Cally when he was hooked? Rule book states "57.4 Awarded Goal - If, when the opposing goalkeeper has been removed from the ice, a player in control of the puck in the neutral or attacking zone is tripped or otherwise fouled with no opposition between him and the opposing goal, thus preventing a reasonable scoring opportunity, the Referee shall immediately stop play and award a goal to the attacking team."
@KCinMN98 I am glad I am not the only one who knows that rule.
The only thing I can think is, with THAT many people watching (most who don't know that rule) making that call would be really confusing and upsetting to people watching (even if it's the right call.) So, since the ref can't call a penalty and NOT give the auto-goal, he makes up a call against Cally.
(In all honesty, I think they were really just trying for an OT game, but that's just me.)
@thenyrblog first time I was in the interview room for torts..it was great, and he was fuming!
@MikeCarverHTW Could you imagine if those calls cost the Rangers the game? He would have lost it.
@thenyrblog not to mention the Stephan grabbing the puck, because every replay shows he didn't. And ref.didn't call it at first either
@thenyrblog there is no doubt. Callahan diving? He had s full blown breakaway. Why would he dive. Also delay of game? Really?
