The last time the New York Rangers played hockey was four weeks ago, on May 6 th. They were eliminated by the President’s Trophy winning Buffalo Sabres in six games. Ironically, the President’s Trophy would be the only trophy the Sabres would go on to win. Buffalo went down to the Ottawa Senators in a wimper, losing in five games.

One of the most controversial calls in the Ranger/Buffalo series would be the “no goal” call in Game Three at Madison Square Garden. It was called a goal on the ice by the officials. Toronto overruled the call on the ice and disallowed the goal saying Karel Rachunek used a distinct kicking motion to guide the puck into the net. Despite the NHL’s attempt to gift wrap this game for Buffalo and giving them a 3-0 lead in the series, the Rangers went on to win the game in overtime.

Yesterday, with Ottawa on the verge of going down 3-0 to the Anahiem Ducks, once again the criminals in Toronto overturned a “No Goal” call by the on ice officials. Ironically enough, one of the officials yesterday was one of the miscreants who officiated the aforementioned Ranger game, Paul Devorski. The NHL awarded Ottawa the goal despite the fact that Daniel Alfredsson clearly used a kicking motion to put the puck in the net.

Brett Hull, in all his usual smugness, pointed out how ridiculous allowing Alfredsson’s goal was in light of disallowed Racunek goal in that Ranger/Buffalo game. Usually, when a situation like this happens in sports, there are umpteen replays of both goals. Most networks would have broken it down, split screened it, slow mo ’d it. Not so NBC. Isn’t that fortunate for the NHL?

Because NBC doesn’t give a rat’s ass about hockey, Campbell and his ace revue team up in Toronto avoided being exposed for the frauds they are. By letting the call of “no goal” on the ice stand, the Ducks had the potential of winning this game and going up 3-0 over Ottawa, Canada’s team. By overturning the call on the ice and allowing the goal, the War Room in Toronto did their best to insure a positive outcome for Ottawa, while extending the playoffs to a game 5. 

Once again, the NHL has insulted the intelligence of the few fans that are still watching these Stanley Cup playoffs. I don’t know how anyone else feels but I’m done watching this farce. The casual fans stopped watching long ago, especially after the Preakness fiasco (the NHL’s version of the “Heidi Bowl”). Now, even die hard hockey fans are disgusted. 

Clearly, for the sake of the game and the players and fans who love it, it is time for a shake up in the upper eschelons of the NHL. How many more black eyes must be inflicted on the game before the Governors and owners wake up and smell the stench on Sixth Avenue and in Toronto?

Bettman and Campbell must go.