I'm not one that would normally blame the refs for a game... but this game was so significantly influenced by the officiating that it's actually hard reading the fan posts here which are blaming the players. Yes the players play the game and they are also partially responsible, but its rare for a team to be so heavily set up to fail as the Avs were in this game. Like how many of you guys blaming the players can remember a game where the officiating clearly turned the game this blatantly? Yeah, I mostly blame the refs for screwing the Avs. It was like 50% Refs/25%Players/25%Coaching IMO.
The Avs were up 4-1 near the end of the 2nd, with the Flames looking entirely out of it, not just in the score, but the Flames looked demoralized and like they knew the game was over. Then Cole levels a guy with a clean hit. 5min Major (BS) and a fight. Instead of coming away with a powerplay due to an instigation call, we end up short for a major penalty. This gives the Flames tons of energy (fight included), while the 15minutes the Avs are pissed in the dressing room about the call. Flames come out and hammer the Avs and score, build even more momentum and the Avs are down and out.
Now, this is the only part which is on the players. Guys have to learn that a bad call will happen and they can't get defeated mentally, which is exactly what happened. I haven't seen the Avs play that bad in a while. They couldn't complete a pass. They couldn't get into the Flames zone. They were still up 4-2, but they looked like they were down 8-1.
But this is also where I heavily blame Bednar. Wtf was he thinking not calling a timeout and continuing to roll lines that were not working and looked out of it. Just split everyone up and roll people out to play a simple game. You don't need more goals you need some energy / checking and to break the Flames momentum. It was clear by this point in the game that the MacK line wasn't with it tonight (was MacK sick or something?) Just split the lines entirely and simplify the game. Get the puck in the Flames zone and forecheck. Nope, Bednar doesn't adjust whatsoever. No timeout. Lets the team which is obviously down just get rolled over. WTF? That was some terrible decision making from him, like a deer in headlights. The only thing I can think was that he knew what was happening and let it happen to teach the players a lesson. Because like I said, bad calls will happen, but the team looked so out of it in the third I can't believe he didn't react. If that isn't the case he should seriously be talked to by Joe / put on notice. It was embarrassing.
Which brings me back to the refs and their influence on the game. It was so obvious what was coming watching the game on TV, let alone being in the building. And it was triggered by a TERRIBLE call by the refs which they had to know after the intermission was a bad call. Usually, you would see a makeup call on something chintsy when refs make a bad call like that. It's not a great practice, but it definitely happens. This was nowhere to be seen despite several holds and slashes which kept offensive pressure (and momentum) when the Avs may have been able to get some relief. Mind you these weren't horribly offending plays, but they were there, and given the terrible call on Cole the Avs deserved at least a minor on something soft back.
TLDR: If you reffed that game or coached the Avs, you should be embarrassed for the impact you had on the game.
