Both Montreal goals were caused by some degree by the poor officiating.
The first goal of the game in the second period should have an offside call made as the Habs clearly were just that.
No call and the resulting goal came on that possession inside the New Jersey zone.
Brian Gionta's 18th goal of the year later in the period tied the game until 5 minutes to go in the game and set up the referees deciding this game.
No,the game winning goal was not bogus and I give credit to Montreal's
Andrei Kostitisyn credit for a great play in powering the puck through the stick of Marty Brodeur on the game winning wraparound,but how it was set up was pure homerism or at best-poor officiating.First,Andrei Markov clearly dove after mild contact from Mike Rupp to draw a penalty and create a Canadien power play,but the next call was worse.
Jamie Langenbrunner was called for hooking when he clearly caught the stick of Saku Koivu and never impeded Koviu's progress in any way.
Replays showed this very clearly and this proved to be the difference as the Devils managed to kill off the Rupp penalty,but the game winner was scored with 14 seconds remaining in the Captains penalty.
A penalty that was not one anyway.
In an important hockey game for first place in the conference that is tied,competent referees do not make either of these calls,yet these guys did so not once,but twice!
And then there was the incident at the end of the game where Mike Komisarek threw 4 crosschecks in a row to the back of the head of Langenbrunner and the call?
Coincidental minors to Komisarek and Patrik Elias,who was just trying to get Komisarek out of the area.
Instead of the Devils having a 6 on 4 for the last 14 seconds,nothing changed except the Devils lost a top offensive threat and Montreal lost a journeyman.
Awful,Awful,Awful...
No one is a proponent of Canadian hockey more than I,but these BS calls against American teams in Montreal and Toronto need to be looked at.
I cannot fully blame them though as the Devils offensive woes continue.
I think Brent Sutter has the right idea in tinkering with the lines as he did last night and he should continue to do so until something starts to click.
A good effort considering the crummy game that was played against Washington,but not good enough.
New Jersey stays in Canada for a Tuesday game in Toronto.
Devils Pitchforks
Gold:Marty Brodeur-Another great game with offensive support
Silver:Brian Gionta-Goal
Bronze:Patrik Elias-For doing the right thing for a teammate
The Cleveland Browns added to their receiving corps in signing Donte Stallworth from the Patriots to a 7 year deal.
Stallworth caught 46 passes for 697 yards and 3 touchdowns for the high powered Pats offense and brings a deep threat to Cleveland,but I wonder about this signing.
Cleveland will be the 4th stop in 4 years for the Tennessee product and if his skills were that terrific,why has he been allowed to wander through the league?
It only cost money and not further draft picks,but I am a bit skeptical on this signing.
Bullpen Notes
Not a great start for Zach Duke in Florida as he allowed 2 homers and 5 runs in a two inning stint against the Reds.
Duke has to hope that Jaret Wright does not show much in the pre-season,as a good Wright performance could put him into the rotation and send Duke to Indianapolis.
I think that is unlikely,but possible.
Tom Gorzelanny is scheduled to pitch one inning today against Tampa Bay after being scratched from his earlier season opening outing.
This could prove to be quite interesting.
Congrats to the Cornell Big Red for winning the Ivy league title and being the first official entrant into the NCAA tournament.
Cornell is the first team to represent the Ivy other than Penn or Princeton since 1988.
Imagine the changes in our world since then.
Photo Credits
Hockey-Ian Barrett-Canadian Press
Stallworth-Unknown
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