I Fought The Law

The Vancouver Canucks have gone through several uniform changes during their 40 year history in the NHL. Starting with the original Rink 'n Stick design before moving to the Flying V (affectionately dubbed the "Halloween Costumes" by some), followed by the Skate (also known as the "Spaghetti Plate"), followed by the Orca which was eventually fine tuned into the current design with the "Vancouver" wordmark.

The Canucks may wish to go for another uniform change for tonight's pivotal Game 4 matchup, and that would be to wear uniforms that involved wings and halos.

Yes, we're talking about officiating...again.

I consider myself a homer in one sense towards the Canucks, but I also like to think I can be objective when it comes to observing a hockey play. Being objective, I think the Canucks caught a break when Shea Weber was called for hooking in overtime of Game 3, a penalty that lead to Ryan Kesler's game winning goal. (the fact that I think that could be somewhat of an evening out for all the short ends of sticks the Canucks have received to this point in the playoffs notwithstanding).

But consider the fallout from that game. Not just the fact that Kesler apparently "chicken winged" Weber's stick (for the unitiated--Weber got his stick into Kesler's midsection, and Kesler pinched the stick between his arm and his body to draw the penalty), but the Nashville Predators were incensed by a penalty called on Jarred Smithson for getting his stick up in the face of Roberto Luongo.

Depending on the replay you look at, it appears either Smithson clipped Luongo in the mask or he didn't at all. You can take a good guess which theory the Predators ascribe to. Head coach Barry Trotz engaged the media yesterday and accused the Canucks of embellishment to get penalty calls.

Take it one step further back to the previous evening, and Nashville forward David Legwand insinuated that referee Tim Peel must have had a hot date, because he had certainly wanted the game to be over quickly.

Now, Trotz's comments were focussed on the Canucks and were completely respectful of the officials. In fact, Trotz called the officials the victims as he said the Canucks were putting them in a difficult situation and making them look bad. Interesting gamesmanship from the Nashville coach.

But the direct singling out and attacking of an official by Legwand is something that the NHL (at least typically) frowns heavily upon. Look no further than Vancouver GM Mike Gillis' actions before Game 7 in the first round. He stated statistics and that Vancouver wanted a level playing field. He did not single any referees out, nor did he take a juvenile shot at one in the nature that Legwand did. The result? Mike Gillis was fined, and apparently heavily.

The result for Legwand? Apparently, nothing.

TSN analyst Darren Dreger stated that the NHL does not like to see playoff games decided by power plays, especially not in overtime. They also allow a little bit of leeway to players speaking in the heat of the moment, which they are clearly stating that Legwand did.

But let us back up a little further to another game the Vancouver Canucks and the Nashville Predators played, a game that Canuck fans now call "Auger-gate". This was the game where Alexandre Burrows angrily and emotionally stated in his post-game discussions with the media that official Stephane Auger had approached him in warmup and told Burrows that he had made him (Auger) look bad in a previous game with a dive, and he was "going to get him".

The result then? For a heat of the moment comment after a game? Burrows was fined.

So this brings me back to my original point. In yesterday's blog, I highlighted how in 90% of the playoff games the Canucks have played to this point, they have received less power plays than the opposition. In light of yesterday's game where the Canucks finally seemed to receive a few breaks, one would hope that would change.

But then Legwand made his comments, and they are being allowed to go unpunished. Perhaps a silent acknowledgement by the league that they feel there were some soft calls against the Predators.

And then further, Barry Trotz accuses the Canucks of embellishment. Whether they are or aren't, you can bet that the officials calling Game 4 will have that comment in the back of their minds when they make a call.

So the Canucks will want to play this game as innocently and cleanly as they can. Because if 9 out of the 10 playoff games they have played to date are any indication, they are about to be fighting the law again.