OFFICIALLY ROBBED. Literally and figuratively. OMG?

[Gary Nylund]

I may not be part of the popular opinion… however, I don’t want the Leafs to play or win like that.

I’m not interested in Toronto doing what Bennet and Gudas did… I’m not into watching a whole season of Gudas hockey, hoping we sneak into the playoffs so we can see Gudas brutalize the other team and injure their players.

We need more ROR hockey on Toronto… not Bennett or Gudas.

We need to find a way through the missed calls and outplay dirty players like Gudas.

I agree, I don't want that either. But I also can't stand watching our players get bullied and not standing up for each other. What Gudas did was disgusting, but I'm just as disgusted by the fact that nobody stood up for Knies after what happened to him and I think a response to Gudas was also required. Those are just the most recent incidents, there have been others and that's just how this "team" rolls.

We keep hearing don't take penalties in the playoffs, just take their number and get payback next season but let's be honest, we never pay back anyone. And Gudas, our season was over FFS, what he did was such a d-bag move, someone needed to do something at that point even if it meant getting a suspension.

If there was a vote for which team is the biggest p***y in the NHL, we'd win in a landslide and until that changes, we'll never win anything. There are IMO two pre-requisites to winning in NHL playoffs, you need to have passion, and you need to be a team with that all for one and one for all mentality that sticks together and sticks up for each other. This team has neither.

 

[Heldig]

1993, not one Canadian team has won...Bettman became President, Vegas can get close to win, Seattle maybe. Chicago tanks and wins draft. American money at its best.
This is not a prediction, this is history.

And Canadian teams won the lottery to get the previous 2 franchise players (McDavid and Matthews).

PS my apologies. Did not realize I was on the Maple Leafs board. Thought I was in the Stanley Cup thread.

 

[kb]

I agree, I don't want that either. But I also can't stand watching our players get bullied and not standing up for each other. What Gudas did was disgusting, but I'm just as disgusted by the fact that nobody stood up for Knies after what happened to him and I think a response to Gudas was also required. Those are just the most recent incidents, there have been others and that's just how this "team" rolls.

We keep hearing don't take penalties in the playoffs, just take their number and get payback next season but let's be honest, we never pay back anyone. And Gudas, our season was over FFS, what he did was such a d-bag move, someone needed to do something at that point even if it meant getting a suspension.

If there was a vote for which team is the biggest p***y in the NHL, we'd win in a landslide and until that changes, we'll never win anything. There are IMO two pre-requisites to winning in NHL playoffs, you need to have passion, and you need to be a team with that all for one and one for all mentality that sticks together and sticks up for each other. This team has neither.

I'm not going to disagree except for one thing. The Leafs aren't the biggest pu**ies in the league, it's the fact they have the biggest target on their backs in the league from DOPS and Hockey Operations.

Ask yourself if the Leafs would get away with doing what the Panthers did....the answer is not a chance in heck. So what happens when/if the Leafs do respond? We know the answer already, as Bunting has the longest suspension so far in the playoffs for doing something less intentional than Bennett did on multiple occasions.

And Canadian teams won the lottery to get the previous 2 franchise players (McDavid and Matthews).

How obvious do you really want to make it? That just allows for league apologist answers like this.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Honestly, the more you want to believe it's the refs the more you are wasting your time and crying over spilled milk IMO.

In the game of winning, it's about overcoming EVERYTHING, the opponent, the fans, yourself, and even the refs. That's it.

 

[therealkoho]

This victimization narrative stuff barely had legs 30 years ago. You'd talk about the incident the day after the game then move on with your life. At the time of the infamous non-call on Gretzky's blood drawing high stick it seemed to disappear in a day. I barely remembered it until some time in the 2000's when someone or another at a site like this would bring it up.

That has been cemented in my minds eye since the night it happened, and almost all the Leafs fans I've known since I was a kid, feel the same way pretty much

The league wanted Gretzky and the Kings going to the finals. The game was really taking hold, Hollywood was showing up at Kings games, big fat juicy TV contracts were sure to follow.

The Leafs going on to play Montreal in the 75th anniversary season. The 75th anniversary which the league made a pretty big deal about really meant something to both Montreal and Toronto. Unfortunately what it didn't serve were the leagues actual needs.

Well said. Stop putting yourself in a position where a bad/missed call kills you.
This call didn’t put us down 3-1 in a series, this call call didn’t score 1 goal in 5 games (33 million in salary), this call didn’t lose the game. We still tied it and lost in OT.

It took many missed calls to put the Leafs in that position.

 

[Fogelhund]

Sure, maybe the no goal was a mistake. It was game 5... and they were eliminated. If they had managed to score more than 2 goals a game, they wouldn't have been in that position. Frankly, the team didn't perform very well, couldn't score, and put themselves in this position. They didn't lose this series because of a bad call, they lost the series, because the top players didn't contribute enough offensively.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm not going to disagree except for one thing. The Leafs aren't the biggest pu**ies in the league, it's the fact they have the biggest target on their backs in the league from DOPS and Hockey Operations.

Ask yourself if the Leafs would get away with doing what the Panthers did....the answer is not a chance in heck. So what happens when/if the Leafs do respond? We know the answer already, as Bunting has the longest suspension so far in the playoffs for doing something less intentional than Bennett did on multiple occasions.

How obvious do you really want to make it? That just allows for league apologist answers like this.

Not buying it.

This shit happens to us during the regular season all the time. When we're locked in to make the playoffs, what's the downside to standing up for each other even if means someone sitting out a few games? There is none.

And Gudas, the season was over FFS, who cares about a suspension served next season? No excuse for letting Gudas do what he did with zero response.

This so called "team" is a disgrace and has been for some time. I always try to look on the positive side of things and keep telling myself that with all this talent, there's always a chance but I don't think I can say that any more. The fact that we didn't show for game 3, the fact that our rookie who had been playing his heart out for us got taken out and we did nothing, then Gudas was the cherry on top and I just can't say with a straight face that this is a team that has a shot at the cup. This isn't even a team FFS, it's a group of people making a ton of money who have no pride whatsoever.

 

[DuklaNation]

If certain variables are against you, a team must enhance other variables to compensate. In a 7 game series, a team can execute that IF you have the right roster.

 

[Gary Nylund]

That has been cemented in my minds eye since the night it happened, and almost all the Leafs fans I've known since I was a kid, feel the same way pretty much

The league wanted Gretzky and the Kings going to the finals. The game was really taking hold, Hollywood was showing up at Kings games, big fat juicy TV contracts were sure to follow.

The Leafs going on to play Montreal in the 75th anniversary season. The 75th anniversary which the league made a pretty big deal about really meant something to both Montreal and Toronto. Unfortunately what it didn't serve were the leagues actual needs.


It took many missed calls to put the Leafs in that position.

Not buying it. Too risky, too many people would have to know about this, also not something that benefits all owners, just not believable for many, many reasons.

 

[pcruz]

I may not be part of the popular opinion… however, I don’t want the Leafs to play or win like that.

I’m not interested in Toronto doing what Bennet and Gudas did… I’m not into watching a whole season of Gudas hockey, hoping we sneak into the playoffs so we can see Gudas brutalize the other team and injure their players.

We need more ROR hockey on Toronto… not Bennett or Gudas.

We need to find a way through the missed calls and outplay dirty players like Gudas.

Honestly, the more you want to believe it's the refs the more you are wasting your time and crying over spilled milk IMO.

In the game of winning, it's about overcoming EVERYTHING, the opponent, the fans, yourself, and even the refs. That's it.

I want to echo both of these.

Not only do I find the hockey played by Gudas to be abhorrent, I also think it ought to be discouraged.
Not by rules or fights or anything, but by making it ineffective.

The same way the goons have mostly gone away by osmosis, mostly because they can't be trusted not to be a huge detriment to the team.


As for the refs:

Don't let them be a factor.

If that means you need to score 6 goals to counter the 2 goals called back, so be it.

If it means killing off 6 penalties per game while you have 2 power plays, so be it.

After you win, throw it in their face.

We all knew that the questionable calls were going against the team, the players know, he'll even the head coach said it out loud to the media.

The only option is to make that disadvantage be moot by outplaying the opponents that much more.

It's not for lack of skill.
It's not for lack of desire.

It was just a lack of effort and will to do the dirty work consistently.

It was also due to a lot of bad luck, but that excuse has long lost its value.

Just go out and play to the best of their abilities and let the chips fall where they may.

I can't honestly sit here and affirm that the team was running at 100% for 11 games. I don't even think they played 80% of their best game.

And at this time of the year, if you're not going at full throttle all over the ice, you don't get to mope about other factors leading to your loss.

 

[Nineteen67]

.

Florida and Canes are part of gang of 10 owners .. both teams require da extra gate revenues to float into next year .. always remember most nhl teams still rely on gate revenues to survive .. i am sure they hope Canadians betting will drop more revenues into unprofitable teams too

Well, they were smart to build good teams that can win playoff series

 

[IPS]

Whether one believes in outcomes being manipulated or not, these are cold, hard facts:

a) The NHL (in fact, all pro leaguea) are legally allowed to effect outcomes (NHL and pro leagues considers themselves sports entertainment),
b) The media is legally allowed to lie to you and/or manipulate what you see on TV to fit a narrative,
c) "Legalized" gambling is now ingrained into the sports entertainment culture (while keeping in mind point "a" above).

People need to see this. The NHL outcomes are managed. In the words of former NFL all-pro RB Larry Johnson - who suddenly took on attacks to his character because no can attack the content of his tweet below....

Pro sports thinks every single one of their fans is stupid, and they are right on the mark for the most part. People come running in to protect the league (and by extension, their egos) as no one wants to admit they have been played and used.....

I look forward to all the posts saying you're just making excuses for Dubas and the team.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Lots of excuses but bottom line Mitch, Matty and JT just don't have da games for playoff hockey as they are too slow .. Rielly and Willy do because they have jets .. it is same old story every year and it won't change with those 3 .. Rielly and Willy can't carry those 3 slow pokes .. until folks get it nothing will change

 

[LeafGrief]

Why are the Leafs the gentlemen who play by the rules and lose to the wastrels who break them? They don't ask how, they ask how many.

The moaning about refs in the NHL has reached a fever pitch that is agonizing to listen to. Whining and making excuses doesn't help anyone, it's just unbearably soft.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Such a weird claim with a confused official having both hands on the net looking for the puck.

The NHL literally said it was over the line but the official deemed the play dead when he "intended" to blow the whistle. You're right though: it's pretty weird that the ref decided on that idiocy while looking right at it with both hands on the net.

 

[Gallagbi]

The NHL literally said it was over the line but the official deemed the play dead when he "intended" to blow the whistle. You're right though: it's pretty weird that the ref decided on that idiocy while looking right at it with both hands on the net.

Thats what doesnt make any sense to me. You lose sight of the puck, you blow the whistle. That didnt happen, so the play is live.

There were a few bizarre plays that game, im still not sure what happened on the blown icing where they allowed us to change or why they blew the play dead on the Staal puck with no blood or serious injury.

 

[theTTC]

If you believe it's fixed yet still watch and get upset by the outcome you must be some kind of idiot.

That would be me. lol

 

[Niagara Bill]

And Canadian teams won the lottery to get the previous 2 franchise players (McDavid and Matthews).

PS my apologies. Did not realize I was on the Maple Leafs board. Thought I was in the Stanley Cup thread.

Exactly. And still no cup wins or even close. In this league you are better off to gave Gudas on your team than either Matthews or McDavid, the rules change

 

[Niagara Bill]

I doubt they are reading your posts here

You seem to have power, onward

 

[hoglund]

That’s why you don’t go down 0-3 in a series and put yourself in a position where a missed call can knock you out.

That sounds like an excuse that a ref makes after realizing that he made a mistake.

 

[therealkoho]

The NHL literally said it was over the line but the official deemed the play dead when he "intended" to blow the whistle. You're right though: it's pretty weird that the ref decided on that idiocy while looking right at it with both hands on the net.

Yes so if he deemed the play "over" than why were they reviewing the play, and why yesterday did the league feel it was necessary to state that the up official had blown the play dead, and offer no explanation of what he saw that prompted him to do so.

Essentially the league laid 4 different stories atop one another in order to create no plausible explanations in hopes it causes to much thinking, and the one things fans don't want to do is think.

 

[therealkoho]

Not buying it. Too risky, too many people would have to know about this, also not something that benefits all owners, just not believable for many, many reasons.

Increased interest means new monies coming into the league, new franchise money to split up, more TV revenues means more money to split up.

Are you seeing the pattern

 

[26Mats]

Just seen a YouTube video and there's a zoomed in video AND picture of Gudas holding onto the stick of Jarnkrok during the winning goal. It doesn't just look like it he's holding it for 4-5 seconds.

WHAT IS HAPPENING????

Video is "HOW Is THIS Allowed In The NHL Playoffs..." uploaded TODAY by user Kappy.

How did the ref miss this???

View attachment 708644

From a Habs fan: you were robbed, this isn't baseless complaining or whining. NHL is a bush league. A penalty is a penalty, whether in the regular season or the playoffs. That's how they call it in international hockey.

They need to allow for OT goals to be reviewed. I found this on the web from 2019-20 when video review was expanded:
" A third category has been added to the coach's challenge rule, giving coaches the power to challenge goals that occur after plays in the offensive zone that should have resulted in a stoppage were not called."

As written, it would seem a missed penalty when the team that created the infraction would be a play in the offensive zone that should have resulted in a stoppage but was not called.

 

[WillyC]

For the argument we need to play better…
Better, like Mo’s goal counts and Nylander scores the game winner with 4.5 minutes left and there is no overtime, better?

That is playing better.

to have it end on the refs not calling Gudas on an overtime goal that ends our season… now, with gambling being the NHL’s main focus… this has a bad look.

Just as putting the technology into the puck and net… like touchdowns, every game winning goal must be looked at for interference.

After watching them call back the Tavares goal last year with our season on the line… it was disgusting to watch other teams get away with worse after we were eliminated.

But, seriously, calling back Mo’s goal and then let Gudas get away with that to end our season.

How do you win against this?

 

[Gallagbi]

For the argument we need to play better…
Better, like Mo’s goal counts and Nylander scores the game winner with 4.5 minutes left and there is no overtime, better?

That is playing better.

to have it end on the refs not calling Gudas on an overtime goal that ends our season… now, with gambling being the NHL’s main focus… this has a bad look.

Just as putting the technology into the puck and net… like touchdowns, every game winning goal must be looked at for interference.

After watching them call back the Tavares goal last year with our season on the line… it was disgusting to watch other teams get away with worse after we were eliminated.

But, seriously, calling back Mo’s goal and then let Gudas get away with that to end our season.

How do you win against this?

Simple answer is you play better.

For me, i try to separate the result and the action. Were down 3-0 in a series, chances are these missed calls had zero impact on the series outcome


Conversely, the standard of officiating isnt good enough. Theyre factoring into results at key times, across multiple series because they made mistakes. They ignored infractions that impacted GWG, they made up infractions, they got confused on critical plays. Shit happens, so you dont deal with things in isolation, you deal with trends and the trend is a consistently low standard of officiating