Finals Game 2 Results

Detroit Red Wings vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Red Wings lead series 2-0

Well as much as I commended the officiating in game 1 I am condeming them in game 2.  First lets start with the cross checking penalty on Detroit.  Was it a cross check?  Absolutely but whats wrong with calling the other hundred that happened last night.  Basically this is a major inconsistent call.  Then Malkin gets called for interference, WHAT?  No only was it in no way interference as Malkin had both hands on his stick and didn't lunge forward and they were both battling for the puck, but Erickson was actually holding Malkins stick.  That was a mistake and then the refs put away the whistle so not to make any more.  Yeah thats a great idea as Dupuis gets hooked/slashed by Hossa and can't get the puck out of the zone.  The end result is a go ahead goal by Detroit.  No if you are going to call interference then how about calling the half dozen when players are trying to enter the zone.  Now take this into consideration with the inconsitent calls.  You have the league ending final/championship round and millions of people who are just learning hockey are watching on TV.  This is the joke of a product you put out there.  RIDICULOUS.  Bettman needs to buy a clue if he thinks the state of the game is good.  Financially maybe but it is not without its faults.  Campbell is insane if he thinks these final games are officiated the same as when the season opens in October.  Now remember from my last blog, all I ask for is consitency, not necessarily accuracy but it is very clear that the officiating in last nights game was a result of Pittsburgh dominating on the Power Play and Detroits lack of on theirs.  If the league truley wants a quality final then they will call the remaing games much tighter.  If it slows down the game, then so be it.  These finals should be about the teams that compete at the best level within the rules and if a team is in over their heads when it comes to the rule book then that should be shown.  Don't make a joke of hockey.

Now back to the game...  Like game one it was fun to watch.  The speed and skill of these teams is amazing.  Osgood has to just hope the goal posts hold up.  It seemed at times that both teams where able to take over the game but yet it never really happened.  The game looked like it would go down to the wire until late in the third on an inoccent looking one on two.  The puck just started to bounce all over and then a laser was fired topself past Fleury.  It was a heart breaker to see it happen but it did just that it happened.  Pittsburgh continued to attack but thanks to the lack of officiating, they were unable to beat the several Detroit goaltenders.

All is not lost for Pittsburgh but they need to really stick it to Detroit.  Realize penalties will not be called and start hooking, slashing and anything else to prevent opportunites.  Keep up the tempo and attack, those posts wont continue to save Osgood and eventually Zetterberg will get called for covering the puck in the crease.

Detroit better hope that the officials don't show up at all in this series if they do decide to call something, they will lose.  Pittsburgh is already 1-3 on the Power Play but boy did they look dangerous last night on their lone opportunity.

Next Game June 2 at 8:00 on Versus