PWHL, AHL Playoffs Discussion, May 14th Preview 

I know it's probably not possible for you to cover the PWHL regular season but thank you for bringing attention to their playoffs!

I hope Chicago gets a PWHL team. I took my nieces to see our local minor league team win a playoff championship and they loved it. It'd be cool to take them to a women's pro game some day.

I would like to direct everyone to the attendance numbers for the Cleveland Monsters. Absolutely amazing crowds during the regular season and now playoffs for an AHL team

Go Grand Rapids Griffins!🏒

PWHL Boston could also sweep Montréal tonight.

Rick Tocchet has mentioned a couple of times in interviews that he gets to chat with a referee supervisor between games in the playoffs. I think that is sufficient. The team can air their grievances behind closed doors and get explanations for calls they maybe didn't agree with. Fans don't need to know all that.

Looks like you need some AHL magnets. Go Admirals!

Gregory Campbell is also the AGM of the Florida Panthers. It's almost cosmic irony how the table turns.

PWHL Montreal vs Boston tonight should be another close match. Boston should win it at home

As a Boston hockey fan, pwhl is gonna be easier to watch. Seriously, pwhl on RU-vid vs pay for cable.

I dont think a press conference for refs would work, I would much rather have all the calls and non calls that are questioned by the media or a team have a written or video breakdown with the rulebook justification like they do for player safety incidents... If the response constantly turns to "didnt see it" then you have validity for introducing an additional ice level referee, or expanding video replay outcomes. Thinking about how that panthers goal was upheld even though there was interference, because it wasnt called as a cross check in real time it couldnt be overturned because of a cross check resulting in interference. A lot of confusion and outrage is tribal bias, as well as ignorance to the rules. If the rules should be changed, thats something that would be easier to justify with a clear record of patterns. 90% of the call justifications would be just a copy and paste from the rule book, or we didnt see it. The last 10% that get more convoluted, like that panthers goal, would have to copy and paste the rule and then elaborate with the video review rules. Simple internal conference with the referees after the game and after questioned plays are submitted by the teams or media. They would come in in real time basically. Could be an easy way to minimize the "make up call" nonesense, and the sudden changing of standards when its the post season.

as a hershey resident I love the bears uni!

Shoutout to the Reigntrain! Been a blast watching them

I agree that it isn't a real solution and that it would cause more problems in most cases... but I can't be the only one that thinks there could be a lot of fun in Wes McCauley doing a postgame presser once or twice.

tnx for sprinkling in some ahl coverage .

Go Admirals!

Got in before the sound, which makes sense I guess since light travels faster. Watching it does make it seem like an elaborate idle animation

As a Utica Comets fan, it's telling how deep Tampa Bay is because Syracuse has been good for a decade. It's so hard to crack that lineup that their farm team stays stacked.

Living near Hershey as a hockey fan is the greatest thing. In the winter, my daughter and I go watch The Bears steamroll everyone and in the summer we hang out in Hershey Park. I can see a CV and Hershey rematch. Honestly, CV looked so much better than Hershey in the finals last year. I remember walking out of game 3 after they blew that lead (they still won) thinking there was no way Hershey could win the cup and they of course pull it out in 7. Side note, the Hershey crowd is nuts really all year long but especially in the playoffs. Idk if it's the slightly smaller arena and the sound maybe deflects but it gets loud in that building.

Nice jersey, Shannon.

I'm surprised he didn't highlight the goal scoring machine "Brockstar" Boeser

Most people couldn't handle even the best "media trained" answers from officials because it would either be accurate and agreeable but against their team and therefore wrong, or highlight their ignorance toward the wording of the rules and its application during in-game situations. I can't tell you how many times I've been asked by a calm player 'why did you call that' or 'why is the faceoff there' and after concisely answering the question getting a "that's not how the rule works" response. The number of "oh thanks for explaining it" is grossly outnumbered by immediate and argumentative opposition of opinion coupled with usually a bruised ego trying to interject with their mis-understanding and justify it's accuracy.

The Coachella Valley--Ontario series is being dubbed "The Battle of The 10," a play on both Acrisure Arena (Firebirds) & Toyota Arena (Reign) being connected by U.S. Interstate-10. Should be a fun series.

Go Reign!!!

Sick Bears jersey!

Regarding the NHL, one thing I would like to see from the league is a statement as to whether or not a particular play *would* have been overturned, even if it wasn''t challenged. Specifically, I'm thinking of the Nashville goal where Silovs and the puck were pushed into the net. Tocchet quite rightly declined to challenge, as the coaching staff were thinking it was 50/50 whether or not the goal would have been disallowed, and the game situation was such that giving Nashville a free power-play in a tie game due to a failed challenge could be a turning point. That being said, since failed challenges are penalized, it seems to me that the league needs to do a better job of providing objective information by unequivocally stating how a challenge that wasn't actually made *would* have been reviewed, so that in the *future*, all teams and coaches have a better idea of what on-ice calls are and are not likely to be changed by the command centre. Obviously, these statements would not be released until the day *after* a game. Also, so they wouldn't have to review *every* play and/or goal, you could restrict it to one 'post-game challenge call' per team. Maybe even something like each team gets 6 or so of these to use in the regular season, and 1 or 2 per playoff series. Not looking to blame the officials at all on these, I understand how difficult their job is. What I want is some consistency, and for the coaches of every team to feel like they have something a bit stronger than a shot in the dark when it comes to challenges. As always, keep up the good work, THG, you're the only hockey voice I trust.

There is sound! :)

Prepare to be surprised Shannon because word is they're going to Pickard tonight.

Go admirals!

Let's go Cleveland Monsters!!!

As an oilers fan, very happy that pickard is in tonight

First? And AHL/PWHL news to start...cool. Sad the Wranglers are out, but I'm in Scotland, so lots of other reasons to be happy for someone from Alberta

Another question is how much did not having Silovs' services affect Abbotsford in the playoffs? He had to step in because the Canucks lost both of their goaltenders, so Abby's depth in goal got slashed significantly.

Imagine your goalie is saving a lights out 93% and you're down 3-1 in the series

Whenever I hear the argument about "do we really want the refs to say 'yeah I missed that call,'" my answer is plainly: YES! The NBA has the L2R, and these playoffs alone, we've already seen the association say, after a game "the refs objectively got these game-deciding call(s) wrong." The NBA is far from the poster child of good officiating, but the L2R has noticeably improved the standard and understanding of what calls should and shouldn't have been made. Referees should not have impunity. If an official misses a call or gets a call wrong, they SHOULD have to answer for it and give their side of why the made the call/non call they did. This is the highest level of professional hockey and the officials don't seem expected to actually know what they're doing at any given point. Also, "referees remain nameless to not make the game about them." Trust me, the refs do a damn good job of making EVERY game about them already.

Oh!

Some of the other sports have one designated reporter ask one official questions about the calls in the game.

I’m on vacation in Rome. It’s weird waiting for 8pm to get a “morning all” from Shannon

Let’s go Monsters!!!!!

Last Night: 1-1 P Overall: 35-25 Picks: FLA, EDM

Hershey should do good. Hershey's the one to keep your eye on.

I have no special favourite AHL team, but those I like are the Mantoba Moose, the Phantoms and at 3rd is Grand Rapid Griffins. Sadly the old Springfields Falcons and Oklahoma Barons are gone, I liked them as well. And my Moose and Phantoms will not win the Calder Cup....

would it help to have refs report to league board?

Shannon, do you think abby would have beaten Ontario if they had Silovs?

tampa mentioned go bolts

‘Media training’ - just have Tortorella teach a class on how to handle the media 👍🏻😂

No, interviews with the refs will only make things worse. Notes on what they saw, why they made calls, maybe. No reason to make the job harder.

Lezzzz go Firebirds!!! And the Wolfpack (I'm still salty about the finals last year)

Go Syracuse Crunch!

Yeah LA may have lost in the play-offs but the Reign have swept both Bakersfield (EDM) and Abbotsford (VAN) so we got that going for us

Flo, Edm Record: 38-17-5

You can't beat Hershey this time of year for fan experience. Spend the day at the park riding the SoooperDoooperLoooper, then go see the game. I've done it with plenty of concerts over the years.

Oilers should start Pickard, considering he has a 1.000 save percentage in the playoffs.

better to keep focus on players

florida and oilers

I'll be back when there's sound! Also first 🥇

Its my birthday so a canuck win would be much apreciated

I know there's a media training problem but I think having the ref do the press conference might help develop empathy for the refs and the complex job they have to do. I don't think it will silence the complaints, but it may dull the roar....

All the refs need to know about media training is to keep repeating pucks in deep, and we need to get to our game?

I say the refs have to do a press conference once a week. Except they get Jared Keeso to play Shoresy when they're not filming, and he will comment on the 10 biggest grievances for that week.

Go Bears! 🐻

How about Canada blowing a 5 goal lead vs Austria?

Hello Puckheads! Boy howdy! CAR was on fire last night. 33-27 overall going into tonight - And now, here are your winners: FLA - They get it done! VAN - ‘Nucks take control of the series!

If the Oilers are going to win they need to go to 80s style game, just flat out out score them. Who cares if the game is 8-6, a win is a win and honestly with the way this series has been going would be a fun game to watch

Gooo bears 🐻

Let's go Bears!!!!

The bit about referees answering questions from objective parties (Steve Dangle?) after a game has to exceed in stupidity any negative comment ever made about Gary Bettman. If this asinine suggestion were ever to come about the officials would quit, simple as that. Or, they would all say "I calls 'em as I sees 'em" and leave it at that. Some people have zero awareness of the Law of Unintended Consequences.

the immediate impact of the pwhl is amazing. great hockey great athletes. is there any known timeframe for naming etc?

Zadorov has or will create a bidding war for himself. The Canucks gave up a lot for Hronek and management will make him priority to save face sadly. Zadorov should be the priority 1

Why is it so controversial/impossible to have the refs talk? Baseball has the pool reporter talk to the umpires after the game and the NBA has there last two minutes report. Does that always give the clarity it is supposed to? No, but it is better then the lack of understanding we get currently with rulings and decisions.

Penalties to the referees on blatant miscalls (not missed calls... because I think that is just part of hockey). But, when the video evidence clearly shows a bad call after they even had a 2nd chance to review and they still stand by their call on the ice... that deserves some kind of ownership. Shoveling the problem under the rug game after game is not a solution... that is for sure.

Pickard getting the start

Go bears!

I’ve zero interest in hearing referee excuses , there’s no remedy anyway .. so whether they got it right or wrong has no bearing in rectifying it anyway

Sucks that Abbotsford is eliminated

I think people including myself just want some sort of accountability for refs in all sports. I mean everybody who takes part in any sport, players, coaches, executives, league executives, all have to face the media and answer for their actions and decisions when they go wrong but the refs who can have a pretty huge impact in any sport don't have to face any accountability and it's very frustrating. I think it's way worse in the NFL than the NHL but it would be nice to have some accountability for these guys, although I acknowledge probably never gonna happen.

I don’t think that holding referees and those who wish to keep their jobs accountable is a bad idea..

I don't need to hear from the referee themselves, I just want some accountability. The league can keep the details confidential but at the end of the year I would like to see some aggregate stats like % missed penalties, % incorrect penalty called, etc. That way the public (and the league) will at least have a number to definitively see if the officiating is getting better or worse.

Pickard starting game 4

Silly hockey guy, the monsters and crunch records aren’t similar those are clearly different numbers

So two AHL teams meet in the second round of the AHL playoffs after their respective parent clubs met in the first round of the NHL playoffs. Pickard is confirmed to be the starter tonight. Main concern is Henrique, however. Seems that something happened to him during the series against Los Angeles, because he was out for Game 1 of this second round, is out tonight, was probably out for the 2 games in between.

Boston is done tonight

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻

I agree refs don't need to answer to the media but maybe a ref media representative could be a solution someone who is trained to dodge questions lol

I am curious how the performance of NHL teams tracks with their AHL affiliates over time.

If NBA refs can talk to the media I don't see why the NHL ones can't. They may require some media training and probably shouldn't be sent out right away but it should be possible.

Go wolf pack !

If the Oilers don't go away from Skinner now, and he gets lit up again, then what? The team will be facing elimination and you put Pickard in a do or die game 5? This is the second straight playoffs where Skinner has been bad. Last year, the Oilers kept going back to Skinner and he carried them out of the playoffs. Do they want history to repeat?

Maybe instead of posting a tweet they can have a rep that's prepared to answer after game questions and for the love of God get more specific in injuries upper body lower body this bullshit is stupid

I agree having refs answer questions at the end of the game might be the worst idea ever.

I have no idea how the Avs will have a chance at keeping their Cup window after the betrayal they suffered. I've never felt this bad about a playoff exit in all my years. It's at the point where I can't even watch the rest of the series. Skipped last night, skipping tomorrow. They're beyond done. Their morale and mental are destroyed.

Let’s go Ads! 💀⚓️

Regarding ref interviews, I think this will be a point where I think THG and I will have to agree to disagree. I do agree that I don't think the interviews or questions after a game will generate any answers that the fans actually like. But that's also not why I'm in the camp of "ask the refs after the game." My thoughts are that when you have refs who are CHOOSING not to call things they most obviously DO see, like penalties that occur 4 feet away from the ref and he's staring at them, having a post-game question will have that ref rethinking whether or not to let an obvious penalty slide cause they know they're gonna be asked about it. Again, the fans won't like whatever answer he gives, but there's a sense of accountability that comes with it. That's the reason I'm for the post-game interviews.

last night: 1-1, total: 37-23 tonight: FLA, EDM

1-1 yesterday, 36-24 overall. Picks: FLA/ EDM

put camera on refs and linesman helmets if camera shows stick in face on non call and ref says didnt see it well then....or whatever infraction.

yesterday: 0-2 overall: 26-30 today: FLA EDM

Can we all stop pretending that anyone actually cares about PWHL?

Tonight : FLA & VAN

Yesterday: 0-2 Overall: 34-26 Panthers Oilers