i know that hockey refs have been incredibly inconsistent when it's come to the tightening of the interference rules. but from all the hockey i've watched, and if you know me you know i watch a lot, there's been a uncountable number of calls that have gone against the penguins when they're leading or trailing by 1 or tied in the last 5 minutes of games that have cost them the game. now this isn't just hooking, interference etc. take tonights game, crosby and two of the canucks are pushing, shoving, slashing each other while armstrong gets a stick to the face for his troubles and who gets penalties? crosby and one of the canucks, not the other guy crosby was battling with and not the guy who high sticked armstrong. there's also been an incredible number of quick whistles during which the penguins would have scored had the ref not forgotten the rule for blowing a puck dead, and at least one occasion where not only did a late whistle cause a goal against the pens, but there was also goalie interference on fluery on the same play which went uncalled.

if i was one for conspiracy theories i would just say that the league is trying to make it easier to move the team by keeping them from being as competitive as they could be. maybe the nhl should issue statements like the nfl did, of course they only commented that one of their two horribly blown calls against the steelers was wrong.(btw joey porter's comment after the game: "I know they wanted Indy to win this game; the whole world loves Peyton Manning. But come on, man, don't take the game away from us like that.", its great that someone said it, i hope they fine him, i'd chip in) so why would the nhl not condemn the poor calls against the pens? hidden motives perhaps?

now the one thing i can't understand is how many of these calls go against crosby, who the league has to realize is the best thing that has happened to them since gretzky if not since some crazy canadian guy took a bent tree branch and ran out onto a frozen pond. unless the league is upset that he went to the pens who they were trying to drain the life out of so they could relocate them. sure crosby has a temper and some of the calls against him are justified, but 90% of the penalties he takes he takes are plays where an opposition player doesn't get called on a blatant penalty and crosby retaliates. say what you will about not retaliating, if the refs did there jobs there would be no retaliation needed.

just for the record i don't really believe most of the conspiracy stuff that i am saying, but it's hard to explain a lot of this away.

oh and btw, the family guy where optimus prime is jewish, freaking awesome.