The 12 Habs of Christmas

In honor of the holidays, here is a Canadiens version of "The 12  Days of Christmas"

On the first day of Christmas the Habs gave to me a Stanley Cup in June

On the Second day of Christmas the Habs gave to me two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the third day of Christmas the Habs gave to me three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the fourth day of Christmas the Habs gave to me four Markov blocks

Three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the fifth day of Christmas the Habs gave to me five Olympic Golds

Four Markov blocks

Three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the sixth day of Christmas the Habs gave to me six wins in a row

Five Olympic Golds

Four Markov blocks

Three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the seventh day of Christmas the Habs gave to me seven Gallagher hits

Six wins in a row

Five Olympic Golds

Four Markov blocks

Three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the eighth day of Christmas the Habs gave to me eight penalty kills

Seven Gallagher hits

Six wins in a row

Five Olympic Golds

Four Markov blocks

Three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the ninth day of Christmas the Habs gave to me nine broken sticks

Eight penalty kills

Seven Gallagher hits

Six wins in a row

Five Olympic Golds

Four Markov blocks

Three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the tenth day of Christmas the Habs gave to me ten power plays 

Nine broken sticks

Eight penalty kills

Seven Gallagher hits

Six wins in a row

Five Olympic Golds

Four Markov blocks

Three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the eleventh day of Christmas the Habs gave to me eleven Price saves

Ten power plays 

Nine broken sticks

Eight penalty kills

Seven Gallagher hits

Six wins in a row

Five Olympic Golds

Four Markov blocks

Three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

On the twelfth day of Christmas the Habs gave to me twelve Oles 

Eleven Price saves

Ten power plays 

Nine broken sticks

Eight penalty kills

Seven Gallagher hits

Six wins in a row

Five Olympic Golds

Four Markov blocks

Three Galchenyuk goals
Two Subban Slapshots
And a Stanley Cup in June

Happy Holidays Habs fans and Go Habs Go

A Habs fan blogging from BC

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NHL Officiating Inconsistency. Who is at fault?

Credit: ESPN

Who is to blame for the inconsistency with NHL officiating? Is it the referees? Is it the players? Is it the coaches? Or is it the League?

Inconsistency with NHL officiating seems to be a big problem this year, but don’t kid yourselves Habs fans it’s not only happening in Montreal and in games involving the Montreal Canadiens.

In Montreal this season, we have seen several goals that have been disallowed, and we have seen questionable calls on PK Subban and Brendan Gallagher (partly their fault due to the reputation they have). We have seen some players do the exact same things we call “hockey plays” that Subban and Gallagher do, and get away with them. These types of situations happen in every single rink in the league, every single night.

The game is faster than ever, the players are bigger and stronger, the coaches have great strategies and “The League has instructions that they give the Officials".

There are currently 42 referees and 35 linesmen on active duty in the NHL. 28 out of the 42 referees have anywhere from 10 to 26 years of NHL experience. I don’t expect any of these guys to officiate a game the same way. It’s impossible. Every person reacts to different situations in different ways. What one referee sees as a high stick is a hook to another, what one sees as a hook is nothing at all to another official. Fans will always complain regardless. It’s human nature.

What has become clear is that we’re all wrong. The officiating is extremely consistent. They call what they see. That’s the bottom line. That’s where the war room in Toronto comes in. And ladies and gentlemen that’s where the problem is!

As fans our major issue is when the referees go to Toronto and the decisions are almost never the same on plays that are identical. A rule is a rule. The intent of a player should not be considered. He either did it or he did not. He either hit the goalie or he did not. He either kicked the puck or he did not. Nobody can read someone else’s thoughts. This nonsense has to stop.

The problem is not the inconsistency of the officials; it’s the inconsistency of the NHL.

The NHL has the war room in Toronto where you have “NON-OFFICIALS” taking officiating decisions. To me that’s absolutely absurd. You don’t ask a player to referee or a referee to play. That does not make any sense. The war room should have at least one official assisting with the final decision. The referee knows the rule book inside out, the referee has been applying the RULES his whole life.

The NHL has to stop using the word “INTENT”. My favorite one is the “INTENT TO WHISTLE”. Oh come on. It’s either the whistle was blown or it wasn’t. It’s either player A pushed player B from behind, not the intent. Punish the action, everybody will learn from it.

WHO IS TO BLAME FOR THE INCONSISTENCY? 

-THE DINOSAURS IN CHARGE OF THE NHL!

Written by Eitan Calmy

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I've been involved in the game for 25+ years, as a player, a referee (over 15 years), and now as a minor league coach (I coach my 7-year-old son) I can say that I know and understand the game. I'm definitely not an expert, but who is?

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