NHL Conspiracy Theories: Allegations and Facts
NHLHS writer David Strehle takes a look at Conspiracy Theories regarding certain NHL teams as fans, players, and even coaches are getting into the act.
NHL fans are a passionate lot, and the postseason seems to magnify the emotions of even the most casual of fans.
But it seems that some extremely passionate supporters are becoming paranoid, especially when they appear to be looking through glasses that are in the shape of their rooting interest’s logo.
I thought it would be a good idea to take a closer look at some of the allegations of impropriety, and conduct a little investigation into whether or not there is any credence placed on these declarations of wrong-doing.
In the Los Angeles Kings – Vancouver Canucks series, some of the allegations started after Game Two when a too-many-men on the ice penalty led to an Anze Kopitar power play goal to win the game for the Kings in overtime. This is when some questioned the integrity of the call – even coach Alain Vigneault.
“It was the wrong call. You are allowed five feet, and the rule is the player coming on the ice cannot play the puck. While, yeah, that puck touched one of our players, it touched Kevin Bieksa, trying to get off the ice because he was cut. We’ve got two referees that got red stripes on their sweaters. They should make the call if they think it’s a penalty, and not the linesman.”
In Game Three in Los Angeles, Daniel Sedin had an apparent goal disallowed due to a “kicking motion”. It was conveyed that the goal changed the complexion of the contest, if not the entire series.
Henrik Sedin was upset: “This is the playoffs. They had to over-rule it, too, that’s the toughest part. It was a good goal. It’s awful.”
This has led to the theory that “The NHL is Anti-Canadian and against the Canadian teams” that seems to come around every Spring. And it doesn’t help when no team from the “Great White North” has hoisted Lord Stanley since 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Kings.
The truth is that Vancouver’s special teams has been terrible. The Canucks have given up far too many power play goals in this series. In the three games, the Kings have gone 7-12 with the man-advantage, a staggering 58%.
Couple that with their inability to capitalize on their own power plays (2-11, and it’s rather interesting to note that the two teams have had an almost exact number of man-advantages in the series), and Vancouver’s special teams haven’t been too special thus far.
Add in the fact that Jonathan Quick has outplayed Roberto Luongo in the battle of the goaltenders, and those factors add up to trouble for the Canucks. Luongo was pulled in Game three after giving up four goals on just 12 shots.
In the Philadelphia Flyers – New Jersey Devils series, New Jersey coach Jacques Lemaire was fuming after the Devils’ Game three overtime loss.
“Nobody talked about them having too many guys just before our penalty (against David Clarkson). Nobody saw that. We were yelling. A guy was at center ice and nobody said a word about it. That was before the winning goal. Before the power play they had too many men on the ice.”
New Jersey’s Patrik Elias added: “I think the whole bench saw it. For five, maybe 10 seconds, they had three defensemen (on the ice). They (the officials) didn’t notice.”
The Devils should concentrate their energies on getting more shots on the Philadelphia goal, and getting more traffic in front of Brian Boucher. Overall, Boucher has outplayed New Jersey legend Martin Brodeur, notwithstanding a valiant effort from Marty in the third period and overtime of Game three.
The Devils did get bodies in front of the Flyers’ netminder on the power play in Game three, scoring twice with blue line blasts from Brian Rolston, with Dainius Zubrus right on Boucher’s lap.
Perhaps the wildest conspiracy theory I have heard to date has been from a few New Jersey fans, and it has a wider scope than just the two teams in this series.
The talk revolves around the season series records between Philadelphia, New Jersey, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
During the regular season, the win-loss statistics between these clubs was rather strange. The Flyers finished with a 5-1 mark against the Devils, but just a 1-5 record against the Penguins. New Jersey swept their season set with Pittsburgh, taking all six contests.
So the theory goes that, because there is a very good chance that the Devils could knock the Penguins out of the postseason if they faced each other, why not let the Philadelphia Flyers beat New Jersey and eliminate the danger?
Absurd, I know. But, Gary Bettman and company cannot shrug off the blame completely for this one.
There is a growing faction among NHL fans that Bettman is orchestrating an Eastern Conference showdown between Sidney Crosby’s Penguins and the league’s other major marketing extravaganza, Alexander Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals.
And I am hearing it from fans of many different teams, not just the usual Penguins’ arch-rival variety.
If I step back and take a look, I can almost see a little basis for what is being mentioned.
Much like NBC’s Sunday “NHL Game of the Week”, the league’s cable outlet, Versus, has become somewhat of a second home to Sid and his Penguins.
Every game that Pittsburgh plays against the Ottawa Senators in the first round will be the featured early game on Versus, and they will cut to other later-starting contests, already in progress, when the Penguins – Senators game has concluded.
Even Ovie and his Capitals have had to share two nights with the Buffalo Sabres – Boston Bruins series being shown as the featured game on Versus.
With both Pittsburgh and Washington having lost their series opener, it would seem that a first round ouster by both clubs would be the equivalent of a 10.0 earthquake for the NHL. What would be broadcast on Versus for the rest of the playoffs? Would there just be static, or would they have to fill in the dead NHL air time with more Ultimate Fighter competitions?
It seems Bettman’s neglect has left fans of some teams extra time to pontificate as to the reasons behind his love for his “model NHL franchise”.
OK, I’m being facetious, but you get my drift.
There are reasons why they are the reigning Stanley Cup champs, and they goes far beyond Bettman’s fondness.
Pittsburgh is a great team because of world-class players like Sid, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, Sergei Gonchar, along with a fantastic supporting cast.
Maybe the league could just leave the team’s on-ice success to speak for itself.
And maybe , just maybe, I wouldn’t have to be listening to and reading these ridiculous conspiracy theories. Of course, something has to happen first.
David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia
A lot of good points brought up. Fact remains that its only the losing teams that are complaining about conspiracy’s. Never mind how the team itself is playing, its the league that is out to get them. If Bobby Lou could stop a beach ball, and the Sedin’s could score with their sticks, there wouldn’t be talk of conspiracy. According to the rule book, Sedin’s goal was ruled correctly, no goal. Problem is, they’ve been allowing those goals all season long. Its the timing of correctly calling the goal that aggravates fans and brings about the conspiracy talk. Just think back to the Dallas-Buffalo final when Hull scored the Cup winning goal in triple OT while standing in the crease. Again, according to the rule book, the call was correct to allow the goal. However, just like in this instance, that same play had been disallowed the entire season. The rules are in black and white for everyone to see. Its the people that enforce those rules that choose when is the time to call it correctly. If either play, Sedin’s from a couple nights ago or Hull’s from ’99, had been in the beginning of the season, there wouldn’t be any talk of conspiracy. Its the timing of them that is the issue. You can’t choose to start calling them by the book 6 months into a season if you’ve been lax on calling it all year. You open yourself up to conspiracy talk.
Sheesh, I think I’ve rambles on enough about this lol
And let’s not forget, I’m from Toronto. Home of the conspiracy theory that the League has against the Leafs lmao
Are you serious? you are an “NHL Writer” how can you even give a little credit to the notion that Bettman has any hand whatsoever in determining the outcomes of these games. Do you really think every single owner/manager/referee would sit idly by and let him get away with “fixing” playoff outcomes if this were the case
On a side note I wonder if these “conspiracy theorists” win their playoff pools ever year since they seem to know which NHL teams Bettman is going to screw each year.
Jose, thanks man. You got the jist of the article.
Dustin, maybe somehow something got lost in translation. I would never insinuate any kind of “fixing” of any games at all…not in the regular season and especially not in the playoffs. My point about Bettman is that with the growing number of fans, seemingly from every team now, that feel “he wants Pittsburgh to win”, maybe it would be a good idea not to have the league cramming the Pens down our throats.
The point was not any kind of game “fixing”…just something that they DO have control over, which is the televised game schedule.
C’mon man, you are a fan of the same team that I am, and I know that you hear the same crap from Flyers fans all the time that they think Bettman somehow has Pittsburgh’s interest at heart. There is a grow number of fans on Twitter and Facebook, as well as ones I talk to in everyday life that root for a wide range of teams that tell me their thoughts. Whilst we both think it’s comical, I’m just saying I’m sure the league offices have gotten wind of some of this banter.
That was the ONLY thing meant by he cannot “shrug off the blame completely for this one”, just because sometimes actions can perpetuate thoughts in paranoid person’s minds.
That is all. Thanks, man…appreciated.
Hope you don’t think that was me… Too late I guess.
The other Dusstin seems to have taken this out of context a bit.
It’s been discussed, via media, bloggers, etc., that there is a “conspiracy”.
Bettman DID get investigated while in the NBA, so why wouldn’t it make sense, in a sense that is.
I’m not saying Bettman is “fixing” anything, but this matter should be looked into. There are a LOT of fishy situations, especially this year. Funny enough, it all started when Bettman was appointed commissioner.
Anyhow, great work Dave. Your points are valid, and I don’t 100% agree but I do NOT 100% disagree either.
It’s a touchy subject, that absolutely needs to be looked into.