Going into game 6, the Dukes had a lot of things not going well for them. Top 2 scorers out, an 0-20 powerplay slump, being down 3-2, and not being able to win on home ice. The only thing that didn't change in game 6 was Wellington still was without their 2 leading scorers.
As the game was only a little over 3 minutes old, Ryan Murphy delivered a blow that could cost him dearly to Rich Stetham. A deliberate shot to the head which left Stetham laying motionlessly on the ice. Both Wellington trainers rushed to the aid of Stetham who was clearly knocked out. Ryan Murphy was assess a 5 minute major for head checking and a game misconduct, but I will get back to this a little later.
With a 5 minute man advantage, the perfect time to drop an 0-20 drought would have given the Dukes a huge boost - Wellington came away with 3 shots.
Just before the midway point of the first frame, Oakvile took another penalty, and as I hear on a nightly basis at the Duke Dome, eventually even a blind squirrel finds a nut. Just over a minute into the powerplay, Wellington scored its first powerplay goal of the series and with it took a 1-0 lead. Chris Ayotte skated over the blue line and put a powerful wristshot past a sleeping Hache to put the homeside ahead. However, 5 minutes later, Chris Muise got away from a Dukes defender and beat a helpless Defazio to even the score and silence the Dukes faithful.
Before the end of the first period, Wellington would get another powerplay as Lindsay Sparks took a slashing penalty, something he did a lot of tonight, which gave the Dukes another man advantage, and again, the Dukes were able to capitalize, this time from Marty O'Grady. This gave the Dukes 2 powerplay goals in the frame and a 2-1 lead going into the dressing room.
Just seconds before the 5 minute mark of the 2nd period, Tyler Leimbrock was called for interference which gave the Dukes another man advantage, which again, the Dukes made count when Cam Yuille was able to get a home bounce of the end boards and put the puck into the yawning cage. With a 3-1 lead on the strength of 3 powerplay goals, things were all good and well in Duke country, but someone forgot to tell the Oakville Blades that Wellington was going to win this game with ease. Oakville scored 3 straight goals before the end of the 2nd period to take a 4-3 lead with only 20 minutes to play.
With possibly only 20 minutes left in there season, something had to change for Wellington and things were looking very bleak. Oakville seemed comfortable icing the puck and playing the trap, squeezing the life out of the Dukes minute by minute, but it was an icing call that led to the Dukes tying the game. Kyle Crawford did was Wellington fans have watched him do all year and that was score a big goal on a cannon from the point. After tying the game, Oakville seemed to really want to score again and in the next 5 minutes controlled play in the Dukes end and all Wellington could do was ice the puck and get fresh legs on. After weathering a storm, the Dukes put a little pressure on the Blades and Hache. A team with so much promise and a team that had their backs against the wall, showed why this team can never be counted out, even when they are down.
After some great cycle play in the Oakville end, between Mitch Rosborough and Marty O'Grady, O'Grady sent a saucer pass into the crease area where Jeremy Franklin was all tied up by a Blade defender, but there is a reason why Mr. Franklin has been nominated for CJAHL player of the year. Franklin got his stick on the pass from O'Grady and redirected it past Matt Hache and into the net to give the Dukes the lead again, this time at 5-4. Wellington was able to weather the storm of the pressing Oakville attack for the final minutes and come away with a great victory.
Before the game, I was talking with Brian, the pointstreak operator and we were saying that if the Dukes were going to win, some players had to step up their games or the season would be over for Wellington. To our surprise, the players we said that had to pick it up, picked it up in a big way and helped their team force a 7th game in Oakville.
Getting back to the Ryan Murphy hit now. I was talking to some fans which were sitting right in front where the hit was made and they said it was an obvious blow to the head. I said after watching the first couple games that Oakville had been doing this a fair amount and it was not being called. This time, it was and the appropriate penalty was called. A 5 minute major was assessed to Ryan Murphy which came with an automatic game misconduct. Huntsville fans will know too much about this same call, but a 5 minute head checking penalty comes with a 2 game suspension, meaning, Ryan Murphy who was tied for the team lead in scoring coming into the game, will not only miss game 7, but possibly the first game of the league final if Oakville is able to beat Wellington. This is a much bigger loss if Luke Moodie is unable to return after getting dental surgery and Kellen Lain after having surgery on his wrist after severing an artery.
So on to game 7 the Dukes march. A character, come from behind win in the rink they hadn't been able to win in. A powerplay which was 3-5 in game 6 and Oakville well knows why Wellington is deadly when you make mistakes. Finally the Dukes go into game 7 ,now tied at 3, in an arena where the have won 2 of the 3 games they have won. Should be a hell of a game 7!
I would also like to say the league did a great job on getting the best referees in the league for this game tonight and they did a great job. I think there were some things that were missed and some things that shouldn't have been called both ways, but all-in-all Rob Palm and Terry Hobor did a great job!
DUKES_FAN
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Well the soooooooooo called blow from Murphy was a clean hit and a poor call on behalf of the refs. No one likes to see a kid hurt, but checking is part of the game. He got up and skated off the ice on his own accord. When Wellington fans were commenting on the call you know something was just not right!!!!
And wow that timekeeper what a job he did tonight .... the toggle switch was just-a toggling ...thse seconds were just taking there sweet ol' time .... if you gonna play with the clock ya need to practice ....... it was way to obvious and to cheat to try to get the upper hand is ludicris....
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Hard hits, You said Quote " he got up and skated off the ice under his own accord" Man you are so full of sh--, he was helped off the ice with a trainer under each arm and a player carrying his stick and mouth gaurd. Get your facts straight you a-- hole . Murphy went from one side of the ice to the other with full intention of hurting that player . FACT.
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Did he require an ambulance??? NO!!!!!!!! Did they carry him off the ice???? NO!!!!!!!!!! apparently your understanding of the English language needs some improvement!!!! Here is the definition of "own accord" Idiom9. of one's own accord, without being asked or told; voluntarily: We did the extra work of our own accord. He moved on his own accord. Plase see dictionary.com if you need further clarification.
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So last minute I figured I would jump in the car and check this game out tonight. Hadn't made a trip to Wellington in the series so why not go to the last one. I have to say that Tyler, your accolades to the refs is based purley on the fact you won the game. The linesmen were terrible too. Missing offsides and icings. It was a piss poor job and actually rather embarassing. Now of course everyone is going to sit on here and say oh look oakville is blaming the refs. Oakville has lost enough games in these playoffs and you will not see as of yet anyone blaming the refs. When they have lost nobody has come on here saying oakville got screwed yadda yadda yadda but this time its deserved.
The only penalty that was assessed in the first that was deserved was Sparks(and that includes the one to wellington being a bad call). Now I am not saying that they didn;t miss things both ways because they did but what was called was just awful. Ribiero gets roughing after the whistle when he takes a shot to the head. Call them both. Leimbrock flattens a kid who has his head down fishing the puck out of his feet during a battle on the wall. How is that interference and lets not even start of the Murphy hit. The only reason the called what they did was because he was knocked out. Kid has the puck and is gliding up the wall at center ice and takes a shoulder (Murphys arm was tucked in not up) and hits his head on the glass and gets knocked out. IF it had been the other way though I am sure the same discussion would be going on the same way. Murphy kept his arm down got a good angle on him and hit infront of him and basically stole the puck from him. Pinched him out on the wall. I will give that the kid is 5 foot f*c* all which might make it look like and elbow when a guy 6'1 hits him but whats he suppose do do drop to his knees when he hits him to make it fair?
What I hate reading though is the wellington fans saying the blades have been doing it all series its about time they called it. Give your head a shake. If your going to call the murphy hit dirty then what about the elbowing call against you guys. Pratt delievers a elbow to the head of alcock. But because alcock gets up its not a check to the head. What about pratt hitting alcock after the whistle on an icing after the kid let up. Take your we are holy and do nothing wrong attitudes and shove it. Do the blades take deserved penalties. Yes of course they do, but so do your guys. And until today you never heard the Blades blame a loss on bad refing unlike some other teams.
So the make it official.....The Blades got screwed by the refs last night. End of story. BUT...the wellington and oakville players did play a good game. I hate that the refs have taken our focus off that fact. IN SPITE of the clowns in Black and white there was a good hockey game played.
Palm....retire already.....you're awful.....
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As you already know Tyler I was "NOT" at last nights game, but one thing for sure is that neither Rob Palm nor Terry Hobor are among the leagues premier referees, and NO I'm not bitter because OUR Western Division representatives the Oakville Blades lost either.
truth is Tyler, the best officiated games are the ones where there are NO comments one way or another, from either team! In other words the officials had NO impact on the outcome and noone even mentions their presense! That clearly wasn't the case last night! Having said that, neither of these two officials can be considered amongest the "best referees in the league"!
Had you mentioned names such as McQuigge, Paolini, Roberts or McBride then I'd have to agree with you, but neither Rob Palm nor Terry Hobor are in that class in my humble opinion, ever be it so humble!
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so right but its a matter of perspective. this is the first time the dukes have seen refs in this series that weren't homers or less than qualified for a league semifinal series (e.g Bain/Munroe comes to mind). thats the fact that at least gave wellington fans some hope of a decently called game. i also know that palm/hobor being more "seasoned" refs actually know what a CTH is..and wouldn't dish out a 5-10 combo for one unless a)they saw it and 2) it was bad.
i can totally see murphy looking for some bodies after he took a few hard checks in game 5 including one where he proceeded to get up after peeling himself off the ice and spending a moment and delivering some "fine" words to the young fans (under 20) along the glass who were banging the glass and laughing at him. priceless moment showing a lapse of reason.
in any event its winner take all, single elimination, one and done, whatever you want to call it. it happens tuesday at 8 PM.
$$PM87$$
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According to PM87, who probably never played a hockey game in his life, the only team that gets bad refs are the poor old Wellington Dukes, let's all feel sorry for them, now all at once "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH -------".
What a lot of BS, I have never in all my playing days, my coaching days heard a team moan and groan over refs than the Dukes of Wellington, but only when they lose of course. Has anyone heard anything from the Dukes about the refereeng last night? anyone? I didn't think so.
One would almost want the Dukes to win tomorrow night so that they don't have to endure the tirade from Wellington fans about the big bad refs if the Dukes lose.
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It is too bad that the guys in stripes don't always agree with us folks in the stands but then how can they be as perfect as us?
I've also never lost a game I've coached from up in the stands.
Come on, enough about the refs. They call the game the way they see it. They aren't "homers" or doing a favour for the coach, manager, team owner or bus driver.
This idea that the OHA is somehow directing the outcome of the games to get a specific final match up is paranoia plain and simple.
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There awful plain and simple. Dukes second goal was offside. 4 of them on that ice and they can't see that.
Bring on McQuigge HE IS THE BEST! That crap from last night are awful.
WE WANT SEAN MCQUIGGE
WE WANT SEAN MCQUIGGE
WE WANT SEAN MCQUIGGE
WE WANT SEAN MCQUIGGE
WE WANT SEAN MCQUIGGE
WE WANT SEAN MCQUIGGE
WE WANT SEAN MCQUIGGE
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I have not seen one game of this series. However, it sounds to me like
a bigger older team (Blades) is playing a smaller younger one (Wellington).
The Blades need to use their size to their advantage. Therefore they are playing a much
more physical game than the Dukes. They are also trying to intimidate. I've read
about face washes several times.
When you play the physical game you need to be careful not to cross the line that
the refs set. If you cross the line, then you end up shorthanded.
Different refs set different lines. Where will the line be set by the refs on Tuesday night?
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I guess a player who is carried off is skating to the room on his own. I must say the whole not being able to stand on his legs was quite the act to me then. I mean, I have seen concussions in hockey and the effects they have on players trying to skate after sustaining one. Wobbley legs are always common, Stetham was on his ankles and knees.
The hit was definitely a shot to the head and I talked to some fans after the game who were sitting around the area who weren't even from Wellington who said the hit was a shot to the head.
Regardless of all the whining and complaining, this series has been a great series no doubt about it. There is one game left, the winner goes to the league final. If you read what I wrote, I said I didn't think the refs were that great but they called it pretty evenly. 5 powerplays to 4 in favour of Wellington.
I wish both teams luck tomorrow and wish I could be in attendance but because of a school placement, I will not be able to attend.
GO DUKES GO
DUKES_FAN
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I wasn't at this game either, but reading about the Murphy hit didn't surprise me. In fact when I saw how many goals he has scored I was surprised, because in the Oakville/Raiders series all he seemed to be doing was skating around the ice looking for someone to hit. Made me laugh, and reminded me of the days of the "Terminator" in Georgetown.
Jack
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Terry Hobar and Rob Palm have called two Voyageurs games in the playoffs and on both occassions have done an absolutely fantastic job of taking control of the game, while still allowing the players to decide the outcome.
Easily two of the best officiated games all year for the Vees.
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Game Three in Huntsville and Game Two in Peterborough and i would argue that Game Three in Huntsville was one of the best officiated games i've ever seen, especially considering how much tension had been created in that series due to the George suspension.
couldn't tell you if there were friends there or not.
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