Sharks Down Preds 4 games to 1 in Western Division Quarter Finals...

Again...

I can sum this series up in one word: Officiating. Officials literally handed this game to San Jose. I know, I sound like the typical, jaded, excuse-seeking fan who gets put out round one. To a certain degree, you're right. But the officiating was so one-sided that I'm afraid my blind cousin could have called a better game. Well, series in this case. Don't believe me? Read on.

Scottie Hartnell, who is normally a scrapper, I'll admit, spent 28 PIM on 4 minors, 2 majors, and 1 game misconduct. I know, that doesn't sound too off-balance, but you're talking about all of this happening in 4 games. Want more? Ok...

Toots, our other scrapper, had 21 minutes in 3 minors, 1 major, and 1 game misconduct.

Tell ya what, here's some nifty stats: We had FIVE game misconducts w/ Hartnell, Tootoo, Radulov, Nichol, and Smithson. Forseberg was called for six minors in 5 games... his entire season he only had 39 in 88 games. What's that ratio?

Nashville had a total of 33 minors, 6 majors and 5 game misconducts compared to SJ's 29 minors and 3 majors and 2 game misconducts..

I know - it doesn't seem like that big of a difference... but you have to think of it in perspective: Nashville had twice as many majors and almost 3-times the misconducts...

...and some of the misconducts really were a little whacky. Again, don't get me wrong, I'm not just whining for the sake of whine: I agree with some of the calls. However, I don't think the Hartnell, Radalov, and Nichol misconducts were warranted. I think that the call for the penalty that was made on the ice was the 'most severe way something could have been interpreted'.

I'm not sure which frustrated me more, the overkill on penalties against us, the total lack of penalties being called on the Sharks, or maybe it was just that the sharks, true to their namesake, are good divers? I mean, honestly, I think once I sneezed and Guerin fell. It was crazy.

So, my guys play a little rough from time to time - it's called Hockey.

But, when it comes down to it I can just be chalked up to a jaded fanatic who loathes that her team was put out AGAIN by the Sharks. I know I said this last year and I'll say it again right now: Next year, the Cup is ours.

...now I pray to all of the Hockey Gods with all that is good and holy: Let Forseberg and Kariya be Preds again next year.

http://mypreds.com/ (or PredsWeb.com) is written by Stephanne Dennis; all images and photos used on this site are either (c) Stephanne Dennis & HockeyChic.com unless otherwise stated.