Posted by 
The Flyers lose to the Rangers last night, but with some crazy luck they remain in fourth place. Unfortunately one of the worst displays from the Toronto War Room not only costs a Flyers a chance at winning the game, but the two teams on the fringe of the playoff picture, Buffalo and Florida, will not be going to the dance the year. The reason: a goal that shouldn’t have been called.
It’s unfair to put all the blame on the officiating and the War Room for video replays because the Flyers despite churning up a dominating performance in Madison Square Garden were unable to find the twine behind Henrik Lundqvist more than once. Usually the Flyers are guaranteed 3 or so goals a game, but last night they found everything but the net as King Henrik, with quite a bit of help, carried his team into the postseason.
With that of course all eight teams from the east have been decided, and all that is left to do now is find out their seeding. Right now one through eight lists as Boston (1), Washington (2), New Jersey (3), Philadelphia (4), Carolina (5), Pittsburgh (6), New York (7), and Montreal (8). The Bruins had already clinched the conference, but played the Canadiens last night. Montreal managed to steal a point in the OT loss securing the playoffs in their 100th season. The Rangers with the aid of the NHL and a brilliant display by Henrik Lunqvist managed to score their own trip with a win over the Flyers. At the same time Washington, Pittsburgh, and New Jersey all got wins. While Washington’s and New Jersey’s wins don’t mean much at all, Pittsburgh’s win means that the Flyers have to keep winning. The Flyers and Penguins are now both tied with Carolina at 97 points in the race for 4th seed and home-ice advantage.
The only reason there is still a tie is because the Buffalo Sabres, hoping for some help from Boston against Montreal and Philadelphia against New York, shut down a hot Carolina Hurricanes team in 5-1 fashion. Once again they will be headed to the offseason. Though they worked as hard as they possibly could one blown call may have decided their fate in the playoff race.
The other team that should be upset at Toronto’s job with the video replay along with ref Van Massenhoven who blew the call in the Flyers game is Florida. They also created a win last night against another hot team in the Atlanta Thrashers. Their come from behind win was inspired by the hope for the playoffs, but it wasn’t to be.
While the Flyers should have put more in net against the Rangers being down 1-0 so early on a blown call does effect the game. Others will say that the Flyers didn’t deserve to win if they couldn’t score more on Lundqvist, but that is not exactly the point. The Rangers at one point were up 2-0, and as almost anyone who watches hockey knows it’s easy for teams to suffocate another defensively by stretching the blueline and holding on to a lead. The Flyers with some of their own luck may not have hit the post so much, but that’s the way the puck bounces. To anyone who thinks reffing decisions do not decide the fate of games or teams, this is the perfect example of two teams that will not be going to the playoffs after a goal should have been whistled dead. While the fault is not entirely theirs you would expect the right call to be made whether one has to dive deep into causality arguments or not.
While there is no video of the issue up yet if you watch the replay of the Flyers v. Rangers game on NHL.com it’s the first goal of the game. When the ref loses sight of the puck the whistle is supposed to be blown. Biron covered the puck, got pushed into the net, and the goal was counted. The Toronto War Room, with no evidence to overturn the call declared it was a goal. This poor display may have no only cost the Flyers 2 valuable points in the race for 4th place, but may have even cost 2 teams a chance at the playoffs.
It wasn’t all bad news for Philadelphia though. The Flyers may not have been able to help Buffalo out, but the Sabres certainly came through for them. Their 5-1 win over Carolina keeps the Flyers in the 4th seed and in charge of their own destiny.
With two games left this weekend against the Islanders and then a rematch against the Rangers the Flyers will be looking to close out the season the way they did last year. They need to come out firing. There should be no need for luck if the Flyers play their game and manage to find the net.
Some Other Articles That You May Enjoy:
Don’t Look Now: Empty Net Goal Sparks Head Shot, Line Brawl
Free – Topps Puck Attax starter set – easy contest
Pond Hockey – Don’t miss this beautiful hockey film
There’s a New “Iron Mike” in Town, and His Last Name isn’t Keenan
Proud to be Covering the New York Rangers
The NHL Officials You Don’t See, Part II
We hope you enjoyed this post. As always, leaving a comment below is both appreciated and encouraged. Thanks!
I’m the Panthers guy here, and I had my laptop up and running watching that Rangers\Flyers game last night while the Panthers were on the TV. That first goal was BRUTAL. there are so many other reasons Florida missed the playoffs, but that goal last night, and the Flyers game winning goal against the Cats earlier this week, where both refs simply did not call a text book, blatant, blindingly obvious cross check right before the GWG was scored… it hurts.
I know Karl. As good as that Carter goal was for me, you guys really got the raw end of the deal as far as reffing goes this week. I feel bad for you buddy. It’s worse because I knew we had to win that Panthers game, but I was pulling for Florida to make it. I was kinda hoping we’d show up last night and help you guys out some. It didn’t go all that well.
I’m one of the few Canadians who doesn’t watch hockey faithfully.
Just came to visit from the 31 Day Better Blog Challenge. I don’t have to be a hockey fan to say hello.
Can you please explain why it was “a blown call”?
The puck was never covered by Biron and the referee was right on top of the net and could see everything more clearly then any camera angle availible. If you want to blame someone, blame Timmonen who pushed a Ranger into Biron causing him to slide into the net and miss out on an opportunity to stop the puck.
Was wondering how long it would take before you got in here, Greg… lol. I understand the bias, but you honestly think Biron didn’t have the puck covered for a solid 3, 4 seconds? It bounced around a couple times, his glove went over it. Timmonen pushed the Ranger over. Whoever it was literally pushed biron into the net with his stick… on his own, not because he was knocked into Biron… Van Masenhoven (I think was the ref) came out of nowhere, stood behind the net looking for the puck… finally saw it in the net after all the pushing and said goal. It was pretty bad.
Yeah, as Karl said it was absolutely brutal. There’s no way Van Massenhoven had sight of the puck. Biron had it covered for a good long time. Callahan is slashing at Biron with the puck completely covered and Timonen goes into stop in. Callahan goes straight down and extends his arms pushing Biron with the puck covered into the net. Absolutely and undeniably a blown call. That referee you mention as being “right on top of the net” could not see the puck because Biron had it covered. At that point it should be blown dead. It’s in the NHL rule book. And on top of that Timonen never pushed Callahan into Biron. Callahan was knocked down to the ice.
Even the Rangers’ commentary claimed that it was a blown call.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5KAHeJN26Y