Cullen to Canes Challenge - Prove That I Didn’t Nail It First!

Maybe it’s a case of petty-pomposity, or maybe I just have nothing better to do with my time. But my July 9 blog (at another site) was the first written occurrence in the hockey world to speculate on the Rangers trading Cullen back to Carolina.

Click Here to See the First Written Mention of This Trade:

It wasn’t a case of sudden, brilliant prognosticating. Instead it was a simple case of putting 2 and 2 together (No I’m not cloning Brian Leetch, bringing them out of retirement and pairing them with each other). It was reported that Carolina was looking for a third line center, and with the Rangers tight to the cap and having recently acquired Gomez and Drury, Cullen’s expendability and recent history with the Canes seemed to make this one obvious. Within a couple of days of July 9, this trade was being speculated everywhere. But on July 9, it was only “moi”.

The Challenge: If anyone can produce concrete evidence that this trade was publicly mentioned in writing before my post on July 9 at 4:06 PM Eastern Time, then I will owe you a bag of pucks. Not much I admit, but I’m just an unpaid, volunteer blog writer. If by some miracle you do win this challenge, hit up Matt Cullen and his $2.8 million a year contract for a grander prize. Besides, humiliating a Rangers fan in public should be reward enough for any of you.

The Secrets Revealed: While we’re at it, here is another chance for you to learn about why the Rangers seem to be able to maintain a mysterious defiance of the salary cap, while also holding an iron grip on Russian Hockey fans. This tale of intrigue includes a mystical Russian man and suggests an underground pipeline of dubious double dealing that flows from Russia to the Rangers Management - and all the way to the National Hockey League Headquarters.

Click Here to Uncover The Truth About All the Above-Mentioned Secrets:

I'm sorry but 3 comments just were not enough.

NHL Misses Lydman Goal in Sabres' Game 2 Loss?

Here is the evidence, you be the judge.

DVR Stills from Billszone

(***IMPORTANT***)

To access hi-def clips:
username: brad12R
password: bbrblog)
The YouTube "Smoking Gun" Video

I have been searching for evidence to confirm my suspicions and I think I have enough now to confirm that the NHL did, in fact, fail to award the Sabres a goal on a Toni Lydman shot in the first period of Game 2 of the conference finals.

In the following pictures taken from a high definition DVR and video from YouTube, you will see the puck enter the net and come out after disappearing into the net.

In the video you will see the play in regular, slo-mo, and close-up slo-mo replays.

I think you will find the evidence clear and convincing.
I would like to thank SkateZilla, from Bills Zone for the freeze frames off his Hi-Def DVR and bd007h from YouTube: link to the video replay.

While I can understand how this goal was missed I find it unacceptable in a major professional league that things like this continue to happen. I also firmly believe that the NHL was fully aware of their mistake. I say this because in the 3rd period, two separate times, the video goal judge had Ray Emery remove the water bottles on top of the net. Oddly enough the placement of these water bottles coincides directly with where the puck appears to have struck the back crossbar on the net.

Memo to the NHL:

If you want to be a big-time sport the officiating must get better! Hiding this from the public does not help your cause.

Shame on you.

When Posting Goes Overboard.....

As many of you know I post commonly on the Hockey's Future boards. I think they are great place to debate and learn about the game. Unfortunately they are also a place where emotion often runs wild. Another unfortunate side effect is that you can see the unhappy side effect of people who lose sight of the fact that the NHL is a big game and not life and death. The post below was posted by Balej20, a user on the Rangers board within HFboards. He appears to have progressed beyond rationality and into a George Bush-like denial and conspiracy mindset. What I am saying is this. While the calls were inconsistent and I WOULD have counted the Rachunek goal. Anyone, ANYONE, who believes the NHL gives a rats ass if the Sabres win the cup is dangerously delusional. Please read and judge for yourself.

Originally Posted by Balej20 on www.HFboards.com
"I'm sorry, but this has to be said. I don't care who I offend or whatever, but it's an issue that must be addressed. There is, without a doubt, something going on when it comes to this Sabres team and the league. There is obviously a fix/conspiracy or whatever you want to call it. When all these "breaks" were going the Sabres way in the Islanders series, I kinda shrugged it off, until about game 3. Then it started becoming apparent what the league has in store for this Sabre team. Now I have to watch Power Play after Power Play go the Sabres way until they tie it up. I have to watch an obvious No-Goal for the Sabres in game one, where the guy BATS the puck into the net with his hand, and that counts. But when Rachunek is being hooked, pushed and trying to stop, that goal doesn't count. Jagr has to endure slash after slash, after hook after hold, without any calls. But Godforbid he raises his stick, it's a penalty. I just can't take this anymore.They desperately want this "New NHL" style team to win. This is the league's baby, the way this team plays is exactly what the NHL wants to be identified by. So what better way for the fans to buy into it, then to have this team "be" succesful. I'm tired of being cheated as a fan watching this travesty. I'm not sitting here crying, or complaining, I'm sitting here because I know I am being cheated. And I KNOW deep down, all of you feel the sameway. If something doesn't change quick, I will no longer watch the NHL and I would hope other fans follow, because we are all being taken for a ride."

All I can say to Balej20 is sorry. Go on vacation, take up knitting. Hockey is bad for you. If you read this and identify with it. Time to see the psychiatrist. I come from the land of "no goal", "phantom goal", "wide right" and Buffalo politics. A conspiracy is Enron, the War in Iraq, things like that. Time to focus that type of energy on real problems Budej20. Get well soon.