Maybe it'll be Richard Brodeur.

The Hawks were lucky that game, outplayed, a few lucky posts, and the referees in their back pockets.

How the refs had anything to do with the outcome is beyond me. But then I am not a Canucks fan

I guess the refs are the ones who are on the verge of choking away a 3-0 series lead.

Posted by paul71 on 4/25/2011 2:08:00 AM (view original):
The Hawks were lucky that game, outplayed, a few lucky posts, and the referees in their back pockets.

Both teams have hit an amazing amount of posts in this series. And the Canucks could've just as easily been down 2-1 after the first 3 games. I think these 2 teams are exactly where they deserve to be based on their play in each game. How could a Hawks-Canucks series NOT end dramatically? Game 7 is gonna be great.

I am sure Chicago is calling for a suspension after that hit on bieksa?

Posted by paul71 on 4/25/2011 2:08:00 AM (view original):
The Hawks were lucky that game, outplayed, a few lucky posts, and the referees in their back pockets.

The Canucks didn't outplay the Hawks enough to put them away; but keep whining about the refs.  Hitting the posts goes both ways, the Hawks had about 3 in Game 1, so maybe the Canucks are lucky they're not out golfing today instead of getting ready for Game 7.

Posted by nickhead on 4/25/2011 10:21:00 AM (view original):
I am sure Chicago is calling for a suspension after that hit on bieksa?

I don't think so...I mean I think that type of hit should be suspendable in my opinion, but if the NHL didn't give Torres one, then they won't give Bickell one either. Interesting how this series has evened out in more ways than one.

The only thing that hasn't evened out is the whining by Canucks fans, they are way ahead in that department.

Posted by jiml60 on 4/25/2011 1:28:00 PM (view original):
The only thing that hasn't evened out is the whining by Canucks fans, they are way ahead in that department.

Tru dat.

You know, if I was a Canuck fan/player/coach I'd be really upset with Mr. Gillis today. I mean what kind of message does it send when the organization's General Manager is complaining about the officiating and blaming his team's near-collapse on a lack of power-play opportunities? Sounds like Gillis is being real selfish and trying to make sure everyone knows that, in case his team loses, it's not because he didn't bring in the right players or that they didn't perform.

Not exactly something a ref for Game 7 wants to hear either.

I disagree.  This could be very good management.

I read an article in Sports Ilustrated about 6 months ago, about home field advantage.  It's fairly consistent across all sports, regular season and playoff, that the home team wins about 60-65% of games.  The reason they concluded was the influence that a home crowd has in swaying a referee's decision.  Gillis is playing to the refs and the Vancouver crowd, getting them all fired up and ready to give it to the ref's if any calls are missed.  Eventually the ref is going to make a call in favor of the home team (just like the delayed call on Raymond to give the 5-3 advantage, the missed high stick on Daniel, the missed slough foot on Henrick, the missed delay of game penalty, the missed charging call on Bickell).

Chicago used this exact same tactic on the Tores hit on Seabrook, and it paid off for them - witness the ignored charging call on Bickell in OT that should have been called, and probably would have in any other series.  And don't you think Quenville used the hit on Seabrook to fire up his team?

The crowd in Vancouver will be all riled up over this.  And if it is in the back of the refs mind that the Canuck's were shafted last game due to missed calls (even if it is only Canucks fans who think so) then Gillis has gotten into the refs head and has given his team a slight advantage for game 7.

Quenneville didn't use the Torres hit....the team used it themselves to get motivated.

I can't wait to hear the crying and excuse-making after we bounce their heartless ***** tomorrow.

Paul I get what you're saying, but in the case of the Torres hit, here's why it wasn't called:

The Torres hit was called interference because Seabrook never had possession of the puck. That I believe was a good call. Then the league came out and said the hit itself was not illegal and therefor handed out no suspension. When Bieksa played the puck, interference went out the window so the only possible penalty that could have been called was charging, and seeing as how Bickell only left his feet after the initial contact, I don't believe that's a penalty either. If the league had deemed the Torres hit a headshot and suspended him, then Bickell surely would have been penalized.

That being said, I find it interesting how the only non-calls you list are the ones against the Canucks. Calls have been missed on both sides, and bad calls have been made on both teams. It's part of the game. Championship caliber teams find ways to win regardless of factors that are out of their control. The Flyers took a hell of alot of liberties in the final last season, but that didn't decide the series because the Hawks wouldn't let it be the difference. If the Canucks, as many of use believed going into this series, are a team of that caliber, then they'll win out in the end because they are the better team. But that, as they say, is why they play the games.

Either way, it's gonna be a blast tomorrow.