Comments on: NHL investigating clock hiccup that fleeced Blue Jackets

By: tjmackism

tjmackism — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:25:02 +0000

That was my thought. Why do they have to screw over the last-place team? I mean, have a heart. If you’re going to pull this crap, at least do it do a decent team, like the Red Wings or Bruins. Why add insult to injury by cheating on the last-place team?

By: bostonbsrecaps

bostonbsrecaps — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:56:00 +0000

I guess the international leap second (an extra second) scheduled for June 30 must’ve happened 5 months early!

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:04:45 +0000

This would happen to the Jackets. When it rains it pours. What a brutal season.

By: kellyb9

kellyb9 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:25:25 +0000

Couldn’t agree more. Rationalizing this because you have “dog in the fight” is ridiculous. The NHL needs to rectify this because it could potentially happen in the playoffs. Thats enough reason in my mind to replay a portion of this game.

By: stakex

stakex — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:23:18 +0000

@yettyskills – Well the league could have had the teams finish the game the next time they meet. After all, it would only require and extra 5 minute overtime and wouldn’t have been the first time an NHL game had to be finised at a later date.

However it is now clear the league won’t change the outcome, and I guess I can’t argue with the decision to let the game stand since the game was already in the books. With that said, if its proven that this was an intentional act by a member of the staff running the clock (still a big IF at this point), the Kings should be punished heavily… possibly even losing draft picks. The NHL simply cannot have this kind of thing happen IF it was intentional, and needs to respond with an iron fist to make an example.

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:18:56 +0000

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but you’re absolutely wrong about trying to rationalize the issue. All that line of thinking does is duck the responsibility to make sure it never happens again.

Though I do like your pity point idea.

By: hystoracle

hystoracle — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:48:53 +0000

*shouldn’t (have stopped)

By: hystoracle

hystoracle — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:48:09 +0000

Don’t take penalties in the last minute of the game and this situation doesn’t happen. Maybe clear the puck out of the slot. Bad teams have crap happen to them because they are in the position to allow it to happen. Clock should have stopped.. Count the extra second as part of OT – Give Columbus a point and an OL and move on.

By: yettyskills

yettyskills — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:05:07 +0000

Do what? Move the league to fantasy land where they bring back the team book hotels rooms and hope that the arena is available to finish the game.

The NHL screwed up, and the effected parties will have to accept it and the league will learn from this mistake.

In fantasy land yes, the game gets finished, but in the real world, it is what it is and isn’t going to change.

By: solador78

solador78 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:48:16 +0000

I’m not disagreeing with you… just stating the obvious conclusion to the NHL’s investigation.

By: barkar942

barkar942 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:44:37 +0000

All that the NHL can do on this one is make sure an off ice official wasn’t intentionally stopping and starting the clock to extend the game just a second or two. Also test the timing system to be sure there is no electronic malfunction.

By: stakex

stakex — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:35:39 +0000

The integrity of the game is at stake, so of course it can be taken back. What if this was a “human error” that just so happened to help out the home team? How could the league possibly not do something about that?

By: solador78

solador78 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:04:09 +0000

It is what it is. Can’t take it back now. Bets have already been settled.