Rangers Game

**Cukier27NYR** · 11-24-2001, 12:53 AM

Did anyone see the Rangers game vs. the Capitols. First of all this is not the only game the Refs have been un-fair to the Rangers but this one got out of hand. Rangers are leading 2-1 and a 5 minute major is called for Ulanov punching someone. That in no way is attempt to injure. And for the fact the guy was speared 5 seconds before the punch was thrown and nothing was called on the play, that just upsets me. Not to get picky but, there was a roughing call on the Capitols, Fleury drew it, the guy hit him from behind, now what if theo hit his face on the ice because he didn't expect it. That could have been easly called an attempt to injure but, no it was called roughing. Then I have to say some of the fights toward the end where started by the Rangers, there is no way the Capitols should have gotten away with so many un-called penalties. At this point I woudln't have cared if the Ulanov punch did get him 5 minutes but the other player should have gotten 5 minutes for spearing. This game should be reviewed by the NHL and the Refs should be suspended or repremaned in a proper way. This game made me loose all my respect for the Capitols and the Refrees at this game. Feel free to comment me back on this POST.

**morrisville75** · 11-24-2001, 12:51 PM

I saw it
i hope this does not happen everytime the rangers loss a game
the game was getting very crazy

**Cukier27NYR** · 11-24-2001, 01:19 PM

Has this happened any of the other times the Rangers have lost. I really do not think so. The reason the game got out of control was because of the calls made by the refs.

**SpeedDemon** · 11-24-2001, 04:00 PM

Well, your first point about Ulanov. If he flat out punches someone, which he did, that's a fighting major, and that's in the book. The match penalty was kind of weak but, the original penalty was the correct call. The only reason its not normally so severe a penalty is because the other guy usually is fighting back and evens it up.

Theo Fleury is one of the biggest "diving-artists" in the NHL, so anytime he goes down, I'm always skeptical.

Seeing as how Don Koharski is a veteran ref, I highly doubt he'll be suspended. Basically, the end of the game is where everything happened, and that is expected since the Rangers got their asses handed to them in the final period and were probably frustrated.

The only person I see getting suspended is Karpa, and I'm betting they throw the book at him. Just my two cents.

SD

**Cukier27NYR** · 11-24-2001, 04:52 PM

Hey...I have just one comment on your reply. John Davidson has been around the league for awhile and he even stated that, the punch thrown would have been a 2 minute minor. As stupid as it sounds I taped the game just to whatch it and I am sure that is what he said. Now in other games I have seen players punch each other one maybe only getting a 2 minute penatly and the other gets away with nothing.

**SpeedDemon** · 11-25-2001, 01:10 AM

Your comment is true; in actuality, it would probably be a 2 minute minor. But this is exactly the reason hockey is a joke to so many people. Rules interpretation is so varying that no one can ever tell what the hell is going on. Is it 2 minutes? 5 minutes? what makes an instigator? Hell, even icing is a complicated penalty if you think about it. What determines if a player can comfortably play the puck?

All I'm saying is, by the book, it was the correct call. Maybe by current standards, it was a bit harsh. But then, what was the RIGHT call???????

SD

**John_S_Osborne** · 11-25-2001, 11:14 AM

Eh, basketball is the same way though. I can never understand what's a charge and what's a block, and why Motombo gets called for breathing on someone, but Shaq can elbow everyone in the nose then dunk and it's legal.

Who knows.

- John S. Osborne
Secretary, Drexel U. Roller Hockey Club
LAL Director, ECRHA