Did Smith Really Throw Stick at Hejduk? Watch the Video
December 19, 2008 by Jeanne Dupuis
Filed under Colorado Avalanche, Fan Fare, Goals, NHL, News, Tampa Bay Lightning, Television, Video
The Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Colorado Avalanche last night when Milan Hejduk (Colorado) was awarded a goal after the officials decided that Bolts netminder, Mike Smith, threw his stick.
I’m sorry but I don’t agree with this call for several reasons (and I hate Tampa so it’s not even about that). The first problem is that it really doesn’t look like he threw his stick to me (at least not from the angle I saw). The second problem is that this was during a shootout so it’s pretty crucial to be 100% sure about a call like this. The third problem was that even the commentator thought it was a “great save.” I’m not saying commentators are never wrong but I think there’s enough reasonable doubt about Smith throwing his stick to say that they shouldn’t have given away a game-winning goal like that.
It apparently started quite the uproar with Tampa fans throwing stuff onto the ice and players/coaches arguing with the refs.
In case you’re wondering how this rule works, NHL senior vice president of hockey operations, Mike Murphy, offered this statement: “They huddled to make the decision to see if they felt the stick was thrown. And if a stick is thrown, as outlined in Rule 26.4, they can award a goal and that’s what they did in this case. There was a strong feeling that his stick was thrown.”
Wow. Watch the video of the incident and tell me what you think:
image: TSN
It was the crappiest call I’ve ever seen! What’s with these refs? If there is any doubt, and I know there was, it has to be considered a good save. How can four different officials agree on something most of them weren’t even in a position to see??
I was at the game. The main reason fans were pissed off was that we could all see on the Video Screens that it was not a thrown stick. All the refs had to do was look up and they could see that it wasn’t thrown. Refs need to be held PUBLICLY liable for their spotty calling. And that goes for all sports. The players are, the coaches are, and the arenas are held liable…why shouldn’t they?
Glad I’m not alone on this one. I’m really tired of refs doing this kind of crap and then coaches get fined if they say something about the officiating or the refs get away with punishment when a review proves they were wrong.
With all that Tampa has gone through since the start of the season, this has got to feel like a kick in the guts.
And now NHL officials are rallying around themselves and showing solidarity – no one wants to say the obvious that THEY SCREWED UP.
Look, it’s not sour grapes that the Avs won. That was a great game and a goalie duel. It’s more along the lines that a winner was determined without a goal being scored. The winner was awarded. That is NOT how to end ANY professional sporting event.