The refereeing in the 2012 NHL Playoffs is atrocious, and play is getting to a very dangerous and uncontrollable level.
Take the Coyotes-Blackhawks series, for example.
In game three, the Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa was hit illegally and violently by the Coyotes’ Raffi Torres, yet no penalty was called.
Hossa had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher, and his status for the rest of the series is unknown. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville was absolutely livid after the game, stating: “I saw exactly what happened. It was right in front of me. How four guys missed it was hard. The refereeing tonight was a disgrace.”
The lack of discipline and control has been felt elsewhere around the league.
The Predators’ Shea Weber threw Red Wings’ forward Henrik Zetterberg’s face straight into the boards at the end of game one, yet he only received a roughing penalty and a measly $2,500 fine from the league.
There have been many other hits and incidents in which players have been severely penalized and suspended, but that’s not the point.
The playoffs have gotten completely out of control, and the blame is squarely on the referees. Once the referees start using their correct authority, and the NHL becomes stricter in its enforcement, hockey will return to a more pleasant state.
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