Is There Consistency In The NHL Offices

We are only two nights into the Stanley Cup playoffs and the NHL will let us know how consistent they are going to be when it comes to handing out discipline. The league decided to give Philly tough guy Daniel Carcillo a one game suspension for a blow to the head of Pittsburgh's Maxime Talbot near the end of the Penguins 4-1 opening game victory. Lets fast forward to Game 1 of the Calgary-Chicago series and Flames sniper Mike Camalleri did the exact same thing to Martin Havlat that Carcillo did to Talbot. If Carcillo is being suspended for a game then so should Camalleri. It will be interesting to see how the NHL reacts. I'm guessing Camalleri won't be suspended because of a statement made by NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell when talking about the Carcillo play. Campbell saying "We held a conference call Monday with the general managers and coaches of playoff teams and told them explicitly we would not tolerate attempts by clubs to 'send a message' late in a game when the outcome had been determined". Camalleri's play came at a time when the outcome had not been determined.

If Camalleri is suspended, Flames coach Mike Keenan will certainly be livid. He wasn't happy with the end result claiming Chicago's Andrew Ladd interfered with Miikka Kiprusoff allowing a Havlat shot to go into the net just 12 seconds into overtime to give Chicago a 2-1 win. Did you think Ladd was guilty of interference on that play??? Give me an honest assessment whether you are a Flames fan or not. I thought it was alright. As for the game itself, I thought Chicago looked very tentative and very nervous for the first half of the game. It seemed it took them a while to get going.
------
Anyone buying milk in San Jose this morning might see a picture of Joe Thornton on the carton. Where exactly was big number 19 last nite???? It must be playoff time as Big Joe played with the intensity of an afternoon nap. If your top players are going to play like that, you know what the end result will be and yes, the Ducks walk into San Jose and beat the Sharks 2-0. Jonas Hiller got the shutout...I actually thought Giguere would get the start. Randy Carlyle knows what he's doing.
-------
The Columbus Blue Jackets like the Blackhawks looked very tentative and very nervous in their first ever playoff game. Unlike Chicago, Columbus didn't get a chance to get into things as Detroit looked like the defending champs in winning 4-1. No goaltending problems for Detroit on this night as Chris Osgood looked very good. Valteri Fillipula, Mikael Samuelsson and Johan Franzen each had a pair. Those who took the grinders from Detroit in the pool instead of the flash and dash that Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Hossa bring are smiling because of this.
--------
Boston started off strong and finished strong. Zdeno Chara's powerplay marker late in the 3rd was the winner in a 4-2 game. These two teams don't like one another and it didn't take long for the hostilities to show. At some point before this series is over you have to think Milan Lucic and Mike Komisarek are going to have to toss the knuckles with one another. The Bruins want some discipline handed out to Komisarek for a scuffle involving Matt Hunwick saying Komisarek is guilty of eye-gouging. Yeah OK!!
-------
Calgary Hitmen forward Brett Sonne is the WHL Eastern Conference player of the year. Sonne had 48 goals and 52 assists for the Hitmen in the regular season. I thought Blades tender Braden Holtby would win this award. Guess not! Sonne and the rest of the Hitmen meet Brayden Schenn and the Brandon Wheat Kings tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern final. Both teams have not tasted defeat in these playoffs as Calgary has swept Edmonton and Lethbridge with the Wheaties taking the brooms to Kootenay and Medicine Hat. I say Calgary wins this one in 6.
-------
Roy Halladay continues to be "money" for the Jays. He is 3-0 after striking out eight in seven innings of work in a 9-2 Toronto win over the Twins. The Jays have 77 runs in their first 11 games. They lead the majors in runs scored. The only other team in the 70's in that category are the Texas Rangers at 71.
-------
I can't believe the poll question on the Globesports website yesterday. The question is "Is it time for a new baseball stadium in Toronto". What??? Can someone please explain to me why there would be any thought of replacing Skydome. Whoever is thinking that has taken a Halladay fastball to the old bean?? I had to laugh on the weekend when I saw Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank would like a new stadium to replace the Georgia Dome. The 17 year old Georgia Dome I might add. Meanwhile, Regina just sits and waits for an announcement on a possible new facility. The Premier's comments to John Gormley about looking at a mini-version of the University of Phoenix Stadium has many talking. I've always thought a model for the city to look at is Houston's Reliant Stadium. I've let Mr. Wall know of this.
-----
What's going to happen to the Madden cruiser now that John Madden is retiring?? Have you ever seen what that bus looks like from the inside. That thing is nicer than many apartments with just as many if not more amenities.
--------
Have a good one!!!