I think that tripping call was a make-up call for a similar “slew-foot-like” maneuver that was called interference on Dany Heatley. Both DID trip up their man, but neither was all that egregious. I just hope we’re not seeing a repeat of last season’s EVERYTHING’S A PENALTY!-a-thon against the Sharks.

To be clear, I didn’t claim to see blood. I said there was four minutes because there was blood. I just assumed with the homertastic broadcasting crew I was stuck with, they didn’t bother to show the actual scrape (had there been one). The fact that what’s-his-name was chuckling on the bench didn’t help, and I’m pretty sure you’re all correct in that there was no blood.

Again, it’s not on the refs. That’s loser talk. Don’t be in a position to be affected by the refs, because you’ll always be let down. Take care of your own business and don’t ax-handle your stick over your shoulder if you don’t want to get jobbed.

(But between you and me… they were totally jobbed)

Absolutely, it should have been called, but four minutes? No effin way.

I generally agree with “if you’re going to be in a position to let something a third party did affect the outcome of your game, you didn’t play well enough.” However, when two teams are evenly matched, the refs and the NHL can and do affect the outcome of games.