Ray Whitney's game-winning overtime goal against the Florida Panthers last night kept the defending Champion Hurricanes' playoff chances alive, albeit on life support. The goal also officially eliminated the Panthers from playoff contention. But it wasn't necessarily the result as much as how the two teams got to it that had the Kitties fuming afterwards.After Florida defenseman Bryan Allen was whistled for tripping 'Canes center Eric Staal on a questionable call in overtime, Panther netminder Ed Belfour lost it (clinical term) and started skating around while doing his best pantomime of a dive (though if we were playing charades, I'd have probably guessed "high hurdling" or something). The result was a two-minute minor for Belfour for
After the game, the Panthers were still steamed at the call(s) and the way they believe the Hurricanes play the game.
"We've got to get five or six guys to dive every time you touch them," Panthers captain Olli Jokinen said in reference to Carolina's Eric Staal hitting the ice on Allen's penalty.The teams have one more meeting left this season -- Saturday night in Raleigh -- and you can bet that nothing would make the Panthers happier than hammering that final nail into the Champs' coffin (though chances are the 'Canes will already be dead and buried by then). Just ask Jokinen, who added, "[Carolina] has stolen so many points from us, we have to ... make sure they don't go anywhere. I'd rather see Tampa and Atlanta make it than this team.''
"He embellished it as much as he could," said Allen. "It's embarrassing the way they play the game. They're looking for the easy way out, taking dives and looking for the cheesy call."
UPDATE: CasonBlog answers my rhetorical question with one of his own.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Oh, they are huge divers. The irony of last year's ECF was that the Sabres were laying the same charges. To be fair though, that call on Staal looks more like he lost his edge and the ref blew his call more than he dove.
I would have guessed hurdling for Eddie's pantomime too. I would have loved to see him just belly flop on the ice.
PPP,
The issue last year (lost in the all the invective) was the the Lavalamp started it in the post-game presser about the Sabres, taking the easy way out for explaining their loss in Game 1, and Ruff responded by saying basically he should look at his own team. The Sabres have their reputation which has now reached epic proportions where you have to draw blood on Derek Roy for him to draw a call. But, no one, except Sabres fans last June were calling out Staal, Williams, Recchi and others for it.
The Canes live in a glass house on this issue that has finally had a rock thrown through it.
Ta,
I've never really liked Laviolette so last year it was definitely sour grapes. Same as when Hitch started calling out the Sabres in the first round.
In both team's cases I didn't see many of their games last year so I didn't really notice until this year.
This is professional sports folks. Does the ref make the call for a hook on Staal? Yes, 100% of the time. The defender was beat, and used his stick to do what he could.
To call that a dive is ridiculous. The Panthers now have a reputation as a bunch of underachiever cry babies, starting with Jacques Martin.
Taking a penalty in OT is one thing. For the goalie to then lose all composure and basically give the game away, that's unprecedented and inexcusable. If the Panthers wanted to discuss something following the game, it should have been Belfour's poor sportsmanship and selfishness. His act ended the Panthers season. He should have been put on waivers today.
Drunkle Eddie was frustrated at the terrible call. It was not a hook. The Panthers season was over regardless of whether they won in overtime.