Referees Deciding the Game?

Vol III, No. 19

The Devils have gotten a spanking in the first two periods of Game 6.  It looks like LA is getting near to capturing Lord Stanley.

The first 10 minutes of the game were as even as the rest of the series. But then the NHL referees busted the game wide open.

Steven Gionta gets boarded - no penalty called.  Immediately afterwards, Steve Bernier gets a major and game misconduct which leads to 3 LA goals.  Had Gionta gotten the call, no Bernier infraction, no power play, no Devil player removed from the game.

Next, Ilya Kovalchuk gets mugged and punched - no call.

Next, a ref gets in Anton Volchenkov's path, takes him out of the play, and the defensive breakdown leads to LA's fourth goal.

Next, Bryce Salvador gets a double minor for a high stick. That's about the only legit call in the game so far.

I'd say the score is NHL Refs 4, NJ Devils 0.

Is this sour grapes?  Yes. But the Devils coaches, normally reserved, were livid. If it were Robbie Ftorek behind the bench, there would be debris on the ice already. But Peter Deboer is cooler than that. Even when it comes to Taylor Stevens behind the Devils bench.

There will be another post after the game is over.

Hockey Rules, subject to interpretation!