Over-and-overtime

You'd think Chris was travelling with the Leafs this weekend, working all that overtime -- somehow he managed to get the morning off. But life goes on. And on the weekend, it went on... and on... and on... heck, even the CFLers got into the OT spirit.

Leafs, shootout losers Friday to Hurricanes (thanks a lot, referee), then back home to trump the Habs in overtime (thanks a lot, referee). Proof that in even the hockey world the forces of good and evil will balance out: Leafs were wondering why video replay wasn't used in Carolina to give them what appeared to be Sundin's overtime winner, only to lose in yet another shootout (more on that later).
Then, back at home Saturday and a penalty call just in time for extra time and, yup, Sundin gets his OT goal, Leafs avoid the dreaded shootout, Canadiens go home fuming and Leaf Nation is back in balance.

AP PHOTO

No dice on the poke-check from Mikael Tellqvist Friday night.

Today, Leafs hit the road for a mini three-game road trip. Panthers (hey, Joe Nieuwendyk is supposed to play!), Lightning, Thrashers -- three teams below them in the standings (Tampa's played 26 games for 29 points, Leafs played 24 games for the same). A quick look at the East:

Ottawa       36 points
NY Rangers  35
Carolina       31
Montreal      32
Buffalo        29
Philadelphia  29
Toronto       29
Tampa Bay   29
----
NY Islanders 25
New Jersey  24
Atlanta       22
Boston        21
Pittsburgh   20
Washington 18
Florida        18

Leafs are 1-3 in shootouts this season. Allan Ryan has the stats: they've taken just nine shots in four shootouts. Eric Lindros has their only goal.

Maybe it's too early or just too silly to do this, but even just two extra points in the standings puts Buds deeper into the playoff picture and closer to fourth seed and some of that home ice advantage. (more importantly nobody wants that 8th seed and date with Ottawa in the first round - hands up if you wanna play the Senators in the first round. They've played the fewest games in the league (21) and are tied with Detroit with the most points (36).

But we won't hate on the shootout today. Not after Satruday's 15-rounder at Madison Square Garden.

A quick look around the league shows the Bruins deathwatch is still going, and the undertaker is looking this way. The coach is too often the goat when a team is struggling, and today we spot a mention of Paul Maurice as a possible new man in Beantown.

Tonight, Leafs meet Florida, formerly known as 12-game losing streak. Paul Hunter has their sad story and the trade rumours. Not that trading Roberto Luongo will help:

''Our poor goalies have been getting killed out there", says Gary Roberts.

One lineup note from Ken Campbell this morning Colaiacovo back on the Buds' blue line. (SW)

Comments

[Carla]

Considering that it sure seems like the iffy calls usually go against the Leafs instead of for them, in response to all the kvetching the Habs were doing over the penalty at the end of Saturday night's game, I must quote the inestimable Owen Nolan:

'Boo hoo.'

[Chris]

I don't disagree that Rivet tripped Antropov...I just don't know what game Pollack and the other ref was watching. Markov scored a goal, yet its called back. But he doesn't get the penalty call either. Brutal. Under the same circumstances, I'd probably be screaming at the refs too. Its now Tuesday and I am still disgusted by that game. Begin's penalty, McCabe's penalty, the absolutely brutal call on Markov's goal and then putting away the whistle for the 3rd only to call that penalty on Rivet. If Markov gets suspended, so should Pollack. The guy has no business being an NHL referee.

And if you really think the Leafs get the short end of the refereeing stick, you don't watch a lot of non-Leafs games. They still get away with more clutch-and-grab and interference than most teams (Philly excepted). Jacques Lemaire noted this too, that 3 or 4 of the eastern teams seem to get away with way more interference than anybody else. I couldn't agree more.

[Jlo]

I'd take the Sens in the first round. Got to go through them anyway. Might as well finish of the franchise for good. After they get dusted by the 8th place Leafs this spring, their morale will be so low, even Eugene Melnyk's other investment won't be able to bring them up.

Yes, I am playoff trash talking in November.

[Carla]

'And if you really think the Leafs get the short end of the refereeing stick, you don't watch a lot of non-Leafs games. They still get away with more clutch-and-grab and interference than most teams (Philly excepted). Jacques Lemaire noted this too, that 3 or 4 of the eastern teams seem to get away with way more interference than anybody else. I couldn't agree more.'

As a matter of fact, I do watch a lot of non-Leafs games. I have the "NHL Centre Ice" package, and the first thing I do when I get home from work at night is turn on the tv and tune to whatever hockey matchup looks like it might be the best.

And I do think that the Leafs are a team that attract extraordinary attention from the referees. I also think that other teams get away with a lot more than usual when they play against the Leafs. I seriously think that (some) referees are not fond of the Leafs and their (admittedly, yappy) coach. Of course, that is just my perception, based on the games I watch. Obviously, you have a different perception.

I certainly don't dispute that the officiating in that game was atrocious. It's been atrocious in a lot of games I've watched this season. The New! N!H!L!'s officiating is consistent only in its inconsistency, IMO. I wouldn't defend Markov's actions, though. Ever.

[Chris]

I not only agree that the refereeing is inconsistent in the new NHL, but I would go a step further and say that it is absolutely bush league this year. I am having a harder and harder time watching hockey now because so many of the calls are just so unbelievably bad. And this despite the fact that I am actually in favour of zero tolerance!

Also, I don't think referees are particularly for or against a given team so much as they are perhaps more apt to reward one style over another...for example, I always thought Terry Gregson and Don Koharski called the game in a way that was more favourable to bigger, slow-skating teams (Bruins, Flyers, 90's Leafs), while guys like Denis Morel or Andy van Hellemond were often kind to skating teams (Montreal, Edmonton, Quebec). I can't justify it, it was just the sense I picked up over the years.

Wouldn't it be interesting to see a win-loss record of teams with each of the referees?