The NHL Thread: Canadiens vs Sabres, the Battle of Canada Part 2

Sports & Other Games
1117

Refs really stepped up tonight for the oilers. That dive call was pretty obvious riggage.

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1118

Holy shit that puck hitting the post and then that stick save were some insane hockey. I know nothing about hockey, but I’m going to be riveted to that game Friday at Edmonton.

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1119

I don’t know, sounds like you basically get it. One can nerd out on hockey like any sport, but the real love of hockey comes from “hey look at these elite athletes being humbled by random bounces of a frozen rubber object bouncing chaotically as they scramble around on ice”. Because it’s the only major sport played on ice, it is unique in how quickly it can go from organized ballet-like beauty of tape to tape passes to OH NO THE PUCK IS LOOSE AND I CHOOSE TO PLAY A SPORT ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE FOR SOME REASON AND MY GOALIE HAS FALLEN OVER GOD DAMN IT.

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1120

More on hockey for the casual fan like @suzzer99 : one of the best things about hockey that people don’t talk about is the sounds. When you watch a lot of hockey, you get accustomed to the flow of sounds of the game and it creates (IMO) a unique sports experience where the sounds of the game compliment the play and game narrative so well.

The PING of a shot off the post followed by the disppointed AWWWW or relieved OOOOOOH of the home crowd.

The solid TWACK of a hard pass that hits the recipient right on the tape.

The sharp SWISH of the skates as a good skater makes a hard turn.

The hollow aching silence for a heartbeat as the puck squirts loose unattended in front of the net, followed by a collective GASP from the crowd.

Hockey SOUNDS different than other sports.

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1121

Almost every game you could get several minutes of uninterrupted full out play (unlike soccer where there is a lot of not much happening). Live changing of players is another unique factor that really ups the pace of the game. Oxygenate on the bench. Blow through it in a minute in ice. Repeat.

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1122

I would love a “sounds of the game” option instead of inane announcers. I remember a single game that was broadcast that way. It was amazing. Players (and refs) shouting during play. CLack / Clack, swish / swish, etc.
Still plenty of time during stoppages for announcers to say dumb things.

1123

You mean only the dive should have been called and not the hook? Seemed like he got him on the hands somewhat and refs are too chicken to call only the dive.

edit: Considering the same player did an obvious dive 20 seconds earlier maybe he should have only called the dive.

1124

Then don’t call either

You don’t call diving penalties in the third period of game game of the cup finals

I mean they just didn’t call a too many men penalty on Edmonton

And called an insignificant tripping penalty on Florida later

Refs out of control in game 5. That “slash” on the mcdavid break

Super soft

But hey at least the NHL gets one more game and a chance to get their golden boy a cup ¯_(ツ)_/¯

1125

You probably should if someone dives.

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1126

A while ago the French language broadcasters went on strike, so the feed on french TSN and french CBC where just direct audio from the arena and no announcers. It was pretty great, turns out that inane chatter doesn’t make the game that much more interesting. Who knew?

1127

As a Kraken fan: when John Forslund is the one running point on the inane chatter, it’s wonderful.

1128

I mean, I’m a Rangers fan and our announcing team is also great, it’s like watching the game with a friend (or cool older uncle, in our case). But lots of them suck.

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1129

It wasn’t a dive ¯_(ツ)_/¯

1130

Then it doesn’t matter which period of which game it is.

“Don’t call penalties because PLAYOFFS” is not really sensible.

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1131

Always hated that mindset, in any sport at any level.

1132

Not really sure where theHip thinks the Oilers got all the calls. Seemed pretty even from a reffing standpoint and wasn’t too many men. No one and I mean no one on reddit is complaining about the refs in game 5 so that should give you an idea that they did a solid job.

This was my response on reddit to the too many men non call:
"To be honest refs call way too many too many men penalties on line changes. The guy who played the puck’s replacement hadn’t come on yet so it’s not a penalty.

For example if players F, G, and H are replacing players A, B, and C respectively and players G and H jump on, but F doesn’t and A plays the puck then it’s technically not too many men"

1133

I do think the refereeing is worse in the playoffs, but I think it’s because the players are going crazy fighting for every inch of space and there is just more chaos and unpredictability. People are flying into each other at high speed and sticks are whipping around constantly in the playoffs, and the refs are making split second decisions on plays. They miss more in the playoffs because the players are less predictable than in the regular season and go flying hard into spaces where they would just peel off and head to the bench in a mid-December game.

1134

The bubble during covid was basically this. It was really interesting to watch

1135

https://x.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1803261596178735441

I’m still mesmerized by this. The announcer really blew it babbling about Connor McDavid.

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1136

I mean McDavid did score in the empty net like 3 seconds after that Tkachuk save.

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