HOCKEY LAST NIGHT: SHANNY RIPS REFS

Well, if we weren't already, we're officially back in 2003-04 -- Brendan Shanahan went off on the refs after his Rangers lost last night to the Leafs, saying that when it comes to letting opponents take more liberties with Jaromir Jagr, NHL refs are more permissive than governments are when it comes to enforcing environmental laws. (OK, that's not how Shanahan put it, but it would have been a lot cooler if he did.)

All this well-intentioned talk about a "new NHL" seems to have amounted to next to nothing. It's back to the same pissing and moaning about the officiating, everyone claiming they're getting hosed, too many penalties, not enough penalties, claims there's no definition from one game to the next of what's a penalty.

Without going into the merits of what Shanahan said, it's a turnoff to hear this every night. Then again, it was on the eve of Gary Bettman's anniversary in office (see Dan Wetzel's rant), so it's kinda appropriate.

The real problem is that going back 15, 20 years, players have come up with no concept of how to play a rough, tough hockey game without clutching and grabbing or using hook-and-hold tactics. Just going to throw this out there -- how about just going back to the old standards and instituting 4-on-4 hockey? Jagr and the skill guys would still have to fight through checks, but they'd suddenly have a lot more room to get away.

Leafs 2 Rangers 1: Well, they did it -- the Leafs won six out of eight on a critical stretch, although all that's earned them is a share of eighth place in the tight-as-a-drum East. The guys who are supposed to come up big -- Mats Sundin (winning goal) and Andrew Raycroft (some good saves) -- did just that.

Oilers 5 Blue Jackets 2: Yeah, when you're calling a game against Columbus a must-win, you know that what you're with isn't it, and what's it is weird and scary.

NHL Scoreboard

Headlines: Quebec City will keep 2008 Worlds; along with a Canadian in Israel Idonije, the Chicago Bears defence has an ex-hockey player in linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer; ex-JABSer Chris Young talks hockey blogging (via Mirtle).

Today's better games: Isles-Thrashers, 7; Lightning-'Canes, 7; Stars-Sharks, 10:30.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.