Tuesday night the Red Wings threw everything they could at Jonas Hiller and the Ducks defense; heck, there might have even been a kitchen sink thrown in there somewhere, as the Wings put 46 shots on the young netminder compared to only 23 going the other way at Chris Osgood. In the end, the Wings would lose, 2-1, but not after the Ducks got some last-second help from referee Brad Watson. Watson prematurely blew his whistle, disallowing a potential game tying goal from Marian Hossa with under a minute to go in the game. Video, plus more, after the jump.
With Osgood pulled, Ducks defender Scott Niedermayer lost control of the puck behind the net. Johan Franzen grabbed the puck and poked it behind Hiller, skidding the puck across the goal line. Watson blew the whistle almost immediately, probably thinking the puck was under Hiller. But the puck was actually laying in the crease, and was slammed home by Marian Hossa.
The goal would not count and could not be reviewed, as an inadvertent whistle is not a reviewable play.
Now the Ducks will take a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 Thursday night in Anaheim, and all of a sudden the Ducks are giant killers in the Western Conference. They took out the top-seeded Sharks in six games and are now leading the second-seeded Red Wings with home ice advantage in hand.
One concern for the Ducks heading into Game 4 will certainly be James Wisniewski. During the second period, he took a Pavel Datsyuk shot off his chest. Wisniewski immediately fell to one knee and was not able to get back to his feet. He would be taken off the ice on a stretcher and driven to the hospital as a precautionary measure. The Ducks have not yet commented on his injury.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
5-06-2009 @ 1:45AM
rwing said...
What can you say??? ONCE AGAIN when it comes to Detroit, the refs. SEEM TO LOSE THEIR EYES. Another GOOD GOAL didn't count...what's new, oh lol!!!!!!!!!!
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5-06-2009 @ 1:48AM
n1boater said...
The Refs Blew the game. They should have reviewed that play! The league should do something about these blown calls! The Refs SUCK!
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5-06-2009 @ 2:09AM
rbcranson said...
The Refs not only blew the last goal(& it was a goal)but they blew the Detroit penalty in the 2nd period on Stewart (interference) when the Ducks player did touch to puck. That gave the Ducks there 2nd gaol. Ironic neither play was reviewable.
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5-06-2009 @ 2:12AM
sjones991 said...
Hopefully the NHL's lack of national exposure doesn't hide one of the worst "calls" in sports history. How a ref's early whistle -- if it was early, it sounded like it came right as the puck went in -- on a play like that is absolutely inexcusable. The NHL needs to start answering for some of these ridiculous moments. This was a HUGE HUGE HUGE moment in a great series, and it's embarrassing for the league.
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5-06-2009 @ 2:14AM
rwing said...
GOOD JOB refs!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the GOOD work.
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5-06-2009 @ 2:17AM
qongquest said...
if these are the best refs, hockey is in trouble.
hockey headquarters in toronto is allowing this to happen. no wonder don cherry, hockeys most knowledgable
old school hockey icon hates those that run the league. damn is he right.
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5-06-2009 @ 2:21AM
qongquest said...
these are type of refs that get bonuses from hockey headquarters in toronto.
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5-06-2009 @ 2:25AM
sjones991 said...
The puck is definitely in before the whistle blows. I can't even believe how dumb that rule is that they can't even review that. It's not even close. What a terrible league.
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5-06-2009 @ 2:46AM
Brent Schmidt said...
Hope everyone else had as great of a Sink-o Detroit-o as I did watching that game! :D
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5-06-2009 @ 5:06AM
rwing said...
Hey Brent...this is still a series you know, and I predict the Wings will prevail in the end....that is IF the refs. have the GUTS to call a FAIR game when it comes to the Wings. We're not looking for favoritism in officiating, only FAIRNESS. What's a penalty for one team, SHOULD be a penalty for the other too, oh lol.
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5-06-2009 @ 6:46AM
sg9035 said...
It has been obvious to me for several games that somebody up high in the NHL has made a speech to all the crews working a WINGS game,to CUT THEM NO SLACK...The want another team to hoist the cup..It is not the wings fault that they are so succesful,just good leadership,training,etc..DO any of you remember the 70's and 80's when they where known as the DEAD WINGS,but yet they did something about it.,.,
Lets reverse the current scenario,and replace the Wings with say the LEAFS !!!! Oh Boy,,the fans would set fire to most of Ontario,mass riots,etc..Its time NOW for the NHL to wake up and put matters correct,as these bad calls have now this morning made National News !!! Dont beleive me,then turn on your TV...And talking about TV,,whats wrong with VERSUS ???? ARE they too cheap to supply their crew with correct sound and speach equipment..My highdef TV is on wide open and I still cant hear what they are saying !!!!!!!!!!!
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5-06-2009 @ 7:15AM
BILL said...
The Refs blew that whole game not just one call, it almost looked like they were on the payroll.
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5-06-2009 @ 7:33AM
Brian said...
I think the Ducks uniforms are so cool. Black and White stripes with little orange arm bands. NHL refs should all be FIRED!
I have said this a million times, now it's a million and one... THE NHL WILL NEVER BE A MORE POPULAR SPORT THAN IT IS UNTIL THEY DO SOMETHING TO REGULATE IT'S OFFICIATING!!!!
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5-06-2009 @ 8:37AM
jshedl10411 said...
Unfortunately for the Wings, it has never been their level of play during the playoffs that has cost them games, it has been the inconsistent level of poor officiating. Way to go Watson, you have now made it to the Moron's Club.
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5-06-2009 @ 8:49AM
rwing said...
To Brian....JUST LOVE YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE DUCKS UNIFORMS....NICE WAY TO PUT IT.
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5-06-2009 @ 9:05AM
Aaron said...
I could have sworn I saw the refs high fiving the Ducks at the end of the game, they did have on the same uniforms didn't they. The refs can say they lost sight of the puck all they want and blow the play dead, but how about when the puck goes up into the netting and everyone loses sight of the puck, seems to me its a no brainer, but I've seen play continue, no excuse they just blew the call. How can a team be the most penilized in the regular season and become angles in the playoffs, just another double standard. The refs act as though they are in on the fix for 2 games in a row and it shows
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5-06-2009 @ 9:26AM
mor4u2day said...
Bad thing is for the NHL these bad calls have been happening all season. Tampa had a goal disallowed cause the puck was inside the other goalies glove inside the net lol. Could not see puck so ruled no goal. I am giving up season tickets due to REFS as well as a lot of other people that sat by me. Way to go Campbell sucked as a player too
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5-06-2009 @ 9:49AM
cb66lm said...
What a bunch of big babies you losers are.
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5-06-2009 @ 11:17AM
chad said...
and what a moron Duck fan you are.... You would be ticked too if the refs called such a lopsided series against your team. But you wouldn't know would you? Your team gets all the help from their friends and you're loving it.
5-07-2009 @ 3:03PM
secdev said...
PLEASE PLEASE read - this is a LEAGUE ISSUE - not just a team issue - EVERYONE that likes hockey should be pissed with this - even those that benifited from it (Ducks fans) as these unacceptable calls should not be tolorated. I posted this on another related story:
Football has a great way to deal with this - the coach can challenge the calls with video review. The NHL could do this as well, and a failed challenge could result in the form of a delay of game penalty against the challenging team. I also think that ANY bad call (including Missed calls) that results in the form of a goal (or takes a good goal away) in a playoff game, the ref should be IMMEDIATLY escorted off the ice and FIRED – and can not return to do ANY form of work in the NHL. I have to say, until the NHL addresses this in a satisfactorily way, I am done giving ANY moneys to the NHL – I will not purchase anything that they get a cut of. I will continue to watch on TV, but only games that are free to me. I challenge all of you other fans to do the same – I also challenge the players union to think about a strike next year… I love the game, but this sort of crap is unacceptable – the police need to be policed. Remember, this is an entire league thing – not just one team – all teams have bad calls against them and it is unacceptable.
The ONLY way to stop this sort of crap is to hit the NHL Management where it counts - thier wallets. Do not purchace ANYTHING that puts money in the NHL until this is fixed - call it a fan strike. feel free to support anything that you the fan does not have to pay for though... like watching a game on TV (non pay per view)