The powers-that-be aren’t just tinkering with the NHL games during the regular season, now they’re doing it for the playoffs.
The two-referee system employed until Feb. 28 will be used in every game for the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Love it or hate it, the two-referee system cut average game time by 2 minutes and penalty time by 1 minute.
That may not sound like much time, but the main observation remains that cheap shots behind the play are cut dramatically when there is an enforcement officer who can keep an eye on the situation.
Thus, after Eric Lindros throws a crushing check into defenseman and the puck possession goes the other way, a game official with the ability to call a penalty will watch the aftermath for extra-curriculars.
Face it. A second penalty-caller is long overdue in the NHL. Players are so big and fast compared to even 10 years ago that one referee no longer can do the game justice.
“The general managers and governors of our clubs were overwhelmingly in support of the two-referee system for use in the playoffs,” said Colin Campbell, the NHL’s senior vice president and director of hockey operations. “When the system was phased in during the regular season, the games had a quicker pace, interference was reduced and improper conduct behind the play was controlled.”
If you don’t like the two-referee system, how do you feel about four-on-four in overtime?
The American Hockey League, acting on a request from the NHL, instituted a four-on-four overtime format to see if anything can resolve the dreaded tie situation.
In the first 17 games since the four-on-four has been in effect, 10 have been decided by winning goals, a win/loss result rate of 58.8 percent compared to the NHL’s 26.2 percent.
If the NHL had the four-on-four next season, it could have translated into 10 less ties for the Flyers and the Florida Panthers, who lead the league with 17 apiece.
Despite opposition from players and general managers, the shootout format used in the Olympics and international hockey should be the definitive game-ender. No ties. Ever.
After the 5-minute overtime, a group of five skaters for each team takes turns with penalty shots at the opposition goalie. The squad that wins the shootout gets one point added to its overtime score.
The NHL should reward the shootout loser with one point as it normally awards to teams that tie.
* Theo Fleury became the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Calgary Flames this season, then got traded to Colorado. That’s mostly due to his status as an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, and the fact that cash-strapped Calgary had no chance at re-signing a player who will demand in excess of $5 million per year.
The Flames, in a fight for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference, have another record-setter, though. On March 11, 35-year-old defenseman Phil Housley became the all-time leading scorer for U.S.-born players.
With a three-assist night against his former Washington Capitals, Housley moved ahead of forward Joe Mullen’s career total of 1,076 points. Housley, a 17-year NHL veteran, is the fourth-highest scoring defenseman in NHL history and the fourth to score 300 goals.
“All I can do is send my congratulations to Phil,” said Mullen. “I’m kind of surprised a defenseman is going to break it.”
For the record, Housley’s three-point night gave him 299 goals, 767 assists and 1,066 career points. Third on the list is Pat LaFontaine with 1,013.
Chicago defenseman Chris Chelios, whose name is ground out in the rumor mill as Tuesday’s trade deadline approaches, is fifth all-time among U.S.-born players with 164 goals, 630 assists for 794 points.
* Speaking of the trade deadline, does anyone remember the last time a team made an impact trade and catapulted itself to a Stanley Cup Championship?
How about last season when the Detroit Red Wings added defenseman Jamie Macoun?
Dan McGillis was the trade bait the Red Wings used to get dependable Kirk Maltby in 1996, but he didn’t have an effect until the Wings’ Cup in 1997. Defenseman Larry Murphy, however, was a 1997 deadline trade for the Red Wings.
Who can forget the New York Rangers swapping with three teams for Stephane Matteau, Brian Noonan, Glenn Anderson and Craig MacTavish and the rights to Matt Oates and Scott Malone in 1994, a move that brought The Cup back to Broadway for the first time since 1940?
In 1991, Pittsburg picked up Ron Francis, Grant Jennings and Ulf Samuelsson at the trade deadline en route to the first of their two successive Stanley Cups.
In the last two years, there have been 37 deals for 73 player at the trade deadline.
This is presented for your reading pleasure, not as a history lesson for Flyers G.M. Bob Clarke.
