Yes, I know.... I like to try to keep in mind that the league reviews it ALL. It's not just up to the refs on the ice. At the War Room they can add their own little opportunities for justice. Sometimes we even get to hear about them.

One example-- take the Ovechkin/Gonchar knee hit. If OvieWanGoalobie had hit Gonchar's healing shoulder, that would have been one clear intent to injure. If he had done a hit like he did on either of the D-men assigned to impede his availability to receive passes, same conclusion. From one camera angle of what he did, same conclusion.

From another angle.... uh.... I love my Pens, but I have to admit it was too fast, at that angle, even with slo-mo (over and over), to be sure.... and I dunno what the refs' angles of view were, or what each ref's eyes were actualy looking at in that instant.....

The mind boggles. So I have to say that using the camera to support or overturn the on-ice officials' view seems, to me, the only practical way to go about it.


After an hour of intermission-time, I came to think that the best league decision would be a stiff fine to Ovechkin (and maybe the coach) with a strongly-crafted and legally-delivered warning. He IS a marquee player. Is any league REALLY going to rush to totally change the marketing imnage of a marquee player, with a hasty decision?

Could a ref have been unsure what to do? Might cooler heads prevail after a morning meeting wrestling with it? I look forward to updates-- and another game, tonight.


Try it this way-- can you really see fans understanding how, overnight, Alexander Ovechkin becomes Sean Avery?


That's just ONE of a million or more "moments" the on-ice officials had to address. I would not want their job for ANY money. And without their willingness to attempt the job, we would not have our beloved sport to enjoy.

Checks and balances are a bitch, eh.

~S~