Groundhog Day

How fitting was it that I watched "Groundhog Day" starring the immortal Bill Murray on FX Saturday, minutes before the Pens were about to start their rematch with the hated Detroit Red Wings? Watching the first two games of the series was painful, just like last year. But unlike last year's opening games in Detroit, the Pens played well enough to win this time around. Instead, because of a few fluke goals and some unlucky bounces the Pens head back home facing the same 2-0 deficit they faced last year. Anyone giving up on this team already needs punched in the face. This is the same team that battled back from 10th place in the standings earlier this year to clinch the 4th seed in the East. This is the same team that lost the first two games on the road in Washington, only to battle back and win that series. This is the same team that was outplayed, outcoached, and overmatched in the first two games of last year's finals, only to battle back and make it an interesting series. Until the Pens lose a game at home, they're still very much alive.

After last night's game, I was pissed. I kept going back to the time Mario Lemieux retired from the NHL for the first time back in the late 90's. He was tired of the constant clutching and grabbing that slowed the game down and didn't allow the stars play the way they were capable of playing. After the lockout, the league promised to crack down on obstruction and allow the world-class talent a chance to shine. For the most part, it's worked. The game is regaining popularity due to the emergence of offensive stalwarts like Malkin, Crosby and Ovechkin. After watching the Red Wings, I can see why the NHL champions its offensive stars and doesn't give the Wings the credit their fans always whine about. That team is near unwatchable. If the referees called interference like the NHL promised it would, the Wings would be penalized every time the opposing team dumped the puck into their end. Countless times the Pens would send the puck in deep, only to be thwarted at the blue line by a defenseman who had no intentions of turning and chasing, but instead would stand flat-footed and obstruct the forechecker. Just look at the play when Niklas Kronwall held up Jordan Staal last night. Even Edzo said that was a blatant non-call. Mikael Samuelsson held up a man off the faceoff that led to the first Detroit goal. Marian Hossa hooked, then slashed Pascal Dupuis directly before the second goal. Jonathan Eriksson held up Evgeni Malkin with his free hand, Malkin got pissed and threw him off, in turn taking the penalty himself. I'm not whining, I just hate the whole notion of refs swallowing their whistles and letting players play in the playoffs. These are obvious fouls, they are called during the regular season, why should a team have to change the way they play now? And I'm not the only one who feels this way.

If I hear one more Red Wing player or fan cry because Sidney Crosby gets all the attention and they get no respect I might vomit. The viewing public wants to watch skill and imagination, not obstruction. There's a reason the Red Wings are hated among die-hard hockey fans, and it's not because they always win. It's because it seems like there's a different set of rules when your team plays Detroit.