Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site alberta.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!alberta!lake From: lake@alberta.UUCP (Robert Lake) Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey Subject: Re: Re: Anti-Islander bias Message-ID: <463@alberta.UUCP> Date: Mon, 29-Apr-85 13:28:15 EDT Article-I.D.: alberta.463 Posted: Mon Apr 29 13:28:15 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 30-Apr-85 06:32:33 EDT References: <1533@dciem.UUCP> Distribution: na Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Lines: 23 > On the subject of the Islanders-Flyers - has anyone else noticed that the > Islanders never get a break from the officials this year. There were far > more penalty shots called against them than anyone else (sorry, I haven't > got the stats handy), and they always seem to get the borderline calls > against them. I realize I have a biased view but still ... Is the > league actively against them? And why? I haven't noticed any anti-Islander bias myself. Sure the Islanders seem to take more penalties than other teams, but I think that is a direct result of the nature of their team and their style of play. I hate to keep sounding like a broken record, but the Islanders are a slow moving team which plays a tight, checking game. To me, this implies more penal- ties such as holding, hooking, elbowing, etc. When you can't skate with the best, the only recourse left is to drag them down with you. This whining about biased officiating reminds me of a friend I used to know back in the late '70s. He believed that the officials always seemed to favor the Montreal Canadiens. We all remember the speed the Canadiens had back then (especially against the Bruins), thus I think the above paragraph provides an explanation for that sentiment as well. For these reasons, I don't think the 'biased' refereeing has anything to do with dynasties (after all, the Canadiens did win the Cup 4 years in a row), but rather is a reflection on the skating skills various teams possess.