Leading Up to the 3rd Period

Well, it's so much nicer being able to listen to Randy & Drew. All of these calls our way are not good, even with the goal. Five in a row, after making some shitty calls and non-calls in the first, is a setup for the Third. The Sharks will have to be very careful as the refs will be looking for anything to even up the count. Dirty, diving, whining piece of shit Flames, and I used to really respect this team a lot, but not for a few years now. Must be nice to know you'll get away with shit very few other teams can (other than Detroit or Anaheim in this conference), simply because you're the Canadian hope of the West. Blatant hugs, tugs, tackles, slashes, dangerous trips, cross-checks to the back, boarding, they'll whine about it all.

If I ever get the chance I will spit in Phaneuf's face, what a disgrace to the game, and a rank, rotten cunt, as well.

Dammit, starting the 3rd on the penalty kill. The even up has already started.

UPDATE: After killing 3 penalties in a row at the beginning of the third, the last six minutes they showed how you take over a game, mofo's. That looked more like my Sharks I know and love. An earned shut out bitches, Evgeni is a fucking god.
But, we won't get 10 penalty's called in our favor in one game again, especially in Calgary.

Update, Morning After: I found this funny. I have been working on a story about officiating and fixing in pro sports for a long time, maybe this is the year to finish it.

"I was very upset about the officiating," Calgary coach Mike Keenan said. "I'll share those thoughts with the league and with the supervisor of the officials. I can't comment on how it affected my players. We had a good first period, and then there was a total imbalance in the second."

I can comment on it, Coach Keenan, it changes the entire game, just as you're trying to change game 3 by bringing it up. It changes the players mindset, and can make them feel defeated before the drop of the puck to start the 3rd. It affects how much most teams take risks defending certain players, it makes you much more likely to over-think every move you make, every shift for fear of taking a penalty, especially with the young and inexperienced guys. Maybe not so much with the teams that get away with clutching/grabbing/holding/slashing most of the time, like the Flames. This is the way the game is controlled, inconsistent calling, which is why the league continues to be in the toilet as far as US viewership (the other main one is the horrible national/cable network coverage, and their absurd worship of everything Crosby, hey guys there is this amazing phenom named Ovechkin in DC, you should check him out). Drew Remenda (our color guy) had a funny exchange with Randy Hann (his partner) last night after there was a questionable call made on one of the Sharks in the 1st. Questionable in that they called it like they called the game in the beginning of the season- tight. The problem is, they weren't calling it tight on the Flames the night before, by far. In his smart-ass typical fashion he pointed out the inconsistencies in the calls from one night to the next, and what Drew stated implies there are different rules on any sheet of ice on any given night. That's a hefty charge, and Drew has big balls for bringing it up (again), which is probably why he only lasted on year on Hockey Night in Canada. But everyone knows it, it's the elephant in the room. Change the goalie pads, goal size, format, rules, and we'll still have the same problems. I can't count how many times I've gotten people into hockey only to have them ask me while they're trying to learn the game why they'll call one thing on one end, and ignore a much more blatant example of the same call on the other, several times throughout a game. It's not the easiest sport to learn, and people get tired of trying to figure it out. Getting rid of Bettman and the two ref system would be a huge start, firing 99% of the idiots at Vs. and NBC would be another big step. That's all I'll say about that today.
It's scary playing the Devils because they're the Detroit of the East, they get away, or used to anyway, with more than any other non-Canadian team in the East. Begin disdain now.

UPDATE II, 7:57: Before I forget, I can't believe I didn't mention how the ice is tilted in Pittsburgh, or anywhere else that whining douche bag plays (The "Captain"). I do have a lot of respect for Malkin, but that team has expectations of getting all the breaks every fucking game night. I probably shouldn't blame them since they're usually obliged. Maybe they took over as the officially marketed designated Eastern US team to beat. I mean Marty is getting older, Stevens and Niedermayer are gone, Scotty is with us, and out of stupid superstition I won't say any thing about Elias. The NHL has pinned their hope in the US on one fucking team, because of one fucking guy. And now 75% of the participants in the league, in any facet, can't wait to have the opportunity to have his overrated dick slammed down their throat during the post season. Annoying NHL talking points.

UPDATE III: Fair is fair, the Devils got fucked. Doesn't mean they would have won the game with 30 something seconds left, but they got fucked, which means they'll likely get a few freebies next game. It's hard to feel bad for them considering how many times I've seen that scene reversed over the years. All that matters to me right now is we're up 2 games and we're going to MSG on Sunday. If we can down them in 4, holy shit, watch out East.

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