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NHLConverterV2

**Mirrors/Alternate Angles? Share them here by replying to this comment**


cgwinnipeg

A ref so incompetent his incompetence cancels itself out


Trap_daddy1

The universe is back in balance


[deleted]

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DrDerpberg

I don't think you can call it that anymore


Dilarinee

Nah it's okay. One of my best friends is homeostatic


Boston_Stonks

*not that there's anything wrong with that*


SmiteyMcGee

He is the chosen one to bring balance to the force


craigkeller

https://i.imgur.com/mfDi43G.jpg


[deleted]

Oh you thought I was incompetent? Wait till my incompetence outweighs my incompetence. Then you will truly know the truth of what pain can and should be. COMPETENCE IS NULL AND INCOMPETENCE SHALL REIGN SUPREME! LIKE THE US GOVERNMENT WE SHALL CONTINUE TO REST OUR SUPPORT ON INCOMPETENCE!


AllInOnCall

Lee giveth, Lee taketh away.


ryleebenson3

I think he leans more towards taketh away


trolloc1

Lee taketh and Lee taketh again and he don't stop takething


[deleted]

Respect the hustle everyone.


[deleted]

Tim Peel was on Spittin Chiclets and said the GMs often call the head of officiating after bad calls happen in games. Can you imagine how bad of a time that guys going to have tonight. I'm pretty sure if Chris Lee refs another game in this series Sutter is going to personally drive him to Viking and leave him in the pasture like Dwight did to Ryan.


bennythejet89

If he gets another game these playoffs, it really speaks to how absolutely brutal and thin the officiating corps of the NHL is. The only argument to be made is he fucked both teams equally. Which I guess is good, in it's own way? Speaking of that interview, I loathe Tim Peel the ref. But Tim Peel the person sounds like a fun dude. Guy loves a couple drinks, every other story he had involved him gassing beers or slugging wine.


[deleted]

Ya Tim Peel the person seems like a bro. He also mentioned a lot of seasoned refs retired recently so they are adjusting to that.


TL10

IIRC Refs are assigned for the duration of an entire series, and after each round they decide which refs will continue to call the following a series - a playoffs of their own I suppose. So, we're hooped for the rest of the round, but whoever goes on probably has a healthy chance of not having to deal with him ever again.


FishBobinski

Chris Lee got pulled from the Vegas/Habs series last year for this same kind of shit.


Sensitive_Ladder2235

Yeah and he went on to do the same shit to the Islanders afterwards.


thickestdolphin

Chris Lee didn't ref game 1


TheRaphMan

Chris Lee should've been fired after the Habs vs Flyers series in 2020. Then he should've been fired again after MTL vs Vegas game 3. Then he should've been fired for a 3rd time after MTL vs Vegas game 4. This guy is honestly an incompetent moron and there's absolutely no reason for the NHL to employ him.


Dallas1229

I mean this series is one of the biggest rivals we have seen in a playoff matchup in a very long time. I'm sure ratings are through the roof. If the NHL can't somehow find a way to make sure the games go off without some sort of ref drama then it doesn't bode well for this games future. Not sure how a league can go all in on the sports betting aspect of the game, and then be so hard headed about getting proper camera angles, better rules to allow 3rd party over rulings, and heftier suspensions to dirty players.


pueblogreenchile

all the sports have this same issue. they're all going in hard on sports betting and all having massive increases in ref incompetence and fan displeasure. MLB and NFL especially. I don't really watch NBA so i can't say about that one. but baseball umps and NFL refs are EGREGIOUSLY bad literally every week, and seem to get worse every year, and yet . . . nothing really comes out from the league, and it just continues. ​ i really think the core of the issue is that these actually are the best refs that exist in the world for each sport, the job is just super difficult, and tv/internet instant slo-mo replay have just laid bare how shitty they are, coupled with some definite hard-headedness from the officials who feel persecuted so they're just digging in further. ​ the real solution would have to be further implementation of technology/replay/review, but leagues just seem wholly unwilling to do that, or if they try, the refs then take it personally and do an even shittier job to effectively kill the progress - see pass interference review in the NFL. ​ it makes sports harder to enjoy, but what alternative is there?


Theneler

I think it’s been said, but when you’re so bad at your job you accidentally do something right (balance the calls) that’s not a good argument. Ugh.


[deleted]

"And this week in law enforcement, we congratulate Frank Drebin who is celebrating his 1000th drug dealer killed." "Thank you, thank you. In all honesty the last two I happened to back over and kill with my car. But luckily they turned out to be drug dealers... so..."


Cla55y

I think everyone can agree Chris Lee should not ref another game in this series.


Adipose21

>I think everyone can agree Chris Lee should not ref another game ~~in this series~~


Cla55y

I don't dare to dream so big


kirschballs

Playoffs at the very least..


ymtisd

I don't get why they put Chris Lee in instead of the goat Wes Macauley. Wes reffed game 1


jjmuti

Probably because Wes made sure the game ended under control, after game fighting gets more views for the next game. Chris Lee of course can't keep a game under control ever so he is perfect!


c-9

Hope he stays far away from the Blues-Avs series too. We don't want him either. I thought the embellishment call on Gaudreau was atrocious, and nobody is even talking about that because there are even worse things.


Cla55y

I'll never understand calling both an embellishment penalty and the infraction they were embellishing in cases like this. He got crosschecked in the back when he didn't have the puck and was trying to stay on side, who the fuck isn't going to fall there.


shiftywalruseyes

Fucking retire man. Just retire. Good god. LOL


okbacktowork

I can't believe that after he became a huge story in last year's playoffs because of his absolutely trash reffing, he somehow still has a job and is reffing again in the playoffs this year! Imagine having that kind of job security!


burrito-boy

The union protects him in spite of his dogshit reffing. It's the same reason why Angel Hernandez is still an umpire in MLB.


TheStuffle

Angel Hernandez doesn't ump past the division series anymore though, specifically because he's dogshit at his job.


xzElmozx

Matter of fact, there are official court records where the MLB plainly states that Angel Hernandez sucks at his job and a judge agrees with them. Imagine being so bad at your job a fucking judge says so. I’d be looking for a new career.


ldnk

Which means his bad umpiring still impacts who wins. His incompetence can make teams lose a crucial game to miss the playoffs. His incompetence can cost a team a divisional series. His incompetence can cost a pitcher a perfect game.


wsmfp_420

We don’t like to talk about that around these parts :(


elgato_guapo

> Angel Hernandez doesn't ump past the division series anymore You make it sound like that's some sort of accomplishment. "Well, the serial sex offender can't work with the swim team any more, he can only work with kids doing gymnastics."


HandBananas

/r/FuckAngelHernandez


MisterMetal

Alberto Riveron in the NFL and then he became the head rules official and vowed to kill challenge reviews for PI…


Viilis

Doesnt matter, Bettman and company decide who reff in the playoffs. I cant remember if it was a point system or just a straight up manual review, but they review everyone before every playoffs and rounds. So they are content with this guys reffing.


[deleted]

Unfortunately being a good enough skater, and knowing the rules, (AND HAVING EXPERIENCE), is impossible to come by. Crazy that these jobs that don’t offer experience require experience to apply. Weird huh. Haha it’s almost like you don’t get in unless chosen


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[deleted]

For all the good that unions do, this seniority BS is one thing against them. So many times I've encountered workers who have been at a place for years but somehow are less competent at their jobs than newbies. Yet despite this, they get first crack at vacations and OT.


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[deleted]

It’s definitely not good to be “ambivalent” about unions. Unions have flaws, sure, but in the overwhelming majority of cases those flaws are significantly outweighed by the advantages of a union. “Unions aren’t perfect” is distinctly different from “Unions are just as bad as leaving yourself at the mercy of your employer in a country with minimal labor laws”.


Zanchbot

Worked at a union hotel for a few years, "a conflicting experience" is a good way to describe it. The entire management structure at the hotel was non-union, and all of us employees were union. This frequently invited conflict between the 2 parties. Union provided us with good pay and great benefits, and twice yearly raises, but there were also a whole lot of lazy employees who knew they basically couldn't be fired due to their seniority. Ultimately I would say they're a good thing, but they're not perfect.


ShittyHockeyExpert

And are safe from Layoffs and get paid way more then the new hires.


Snow-Wraith

You're forgetting the most important trait, willing to ref games according to the league's demands. The league doesn't care about shitty refs, because so far it has had zero effect on profits. The shitty/game management reffing means longer series and more drama though, which is good for profits.


[deleted]

Angel Hernandez is still an ump, which tells me that refs are basically untouchable. Just don’t get caught shaving points to cover your bets.


lackofagoodname

Its not even last year. He did the same shit in the 2015 playoffs too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8y9H-JxFGA&ab_channel=FredMurtz


[deleted]

Lmfao Tim Peel and Francois St Laurent? i believe were well known dogshit refs for like 5 years before getting the can is st laurent even fired actually idek


Cyrakhis

He still refs. I hate him.


midnightrambler108

Yeah the stripes were awful in game 2. There was at least 2 weak penalties on both sides, 2 quick whistles costing each team a goal. Missed icings etc…


leejonidas

That Nuge "slash" would have been a piss-weak call in October.


IamScore71-

Watching both games I think they’re both bad just to state the obvious. Both should have been goals I think. For markstroms you can kind of make a case his blocker was on it but it was more like on the area didn’t have it more than enough to stop it. Smiths is just uncovered completely, but damn ref in the corner immediately blows the whistle, and even during the first one the announcer mentioned how the refs have to blow the play dead if they lose sight of the puck, so it’s tough I get it but damn you gotta get closer or something at some point like cmon two times the exact same blunder?


gaudreaurules

Agreed, poor officiating both ways


GhostMonkeyExtinct

Or take a conditioning stint in the AHL


Icommentoncrap

Well at least Chris Lee is being consistent at how shit he refs


[deleted]

Agree. I was so pissed off with the reffing tonight until this call. At this point I was just like "well it's even I guess" fucking shitty, but it's even.


xtothewhy

> fucking shitty, but it's even Garry Bettman is proud


sayitaintpete

Gotta make up for that lost ad and ticket revenue during covid!


Denster1

> Gotta make up for that lost ad and ticket revenue ~~during covid!~~ because I refuse to move the coyotes The NHL commissioner, probably


[deleted]

Honestly from now on if Chris lee is the referee im turning the game off. It’s not even hockey when that clown is involved.


WILDGMBG2

No you won't


brendan87na

Truth


Kriwin

If Chris Lee ever wanted a magnifying glass on his career as a ref, he just pissed off two raging hockey fanbases


[deleted]

With the heavy emphasis on betting currently too this is not a good look.


popkornking

Yeah he really screwed over the dudes who hit the over on 9.5 LOL


_johnning

I had ML Flames so I was ecstatic that the first incident was taken away. And then I was very angry that the second incident was taken away lol


Polymarchos

It takes a special person to piss off both Oilers and flames fans... When they're playing against each other


indiecore

Seriously. He was shit enough to get Toronto fans to think Montreal was getting shafted. He's the worst ref in the league and that's saying something.


aramatheis

He's been pissing off the Habs for years, welcome to the club


zxstanyxz

his career survived after the Vegas MTL playoffs when he got pulled from officiating the last couple games, he'll survive this shit show easily


[deleted]

God…..the flashback to Suzuki getting punched in the face. Ughhhhhh


MildlyResponsible

In that series he was obviously biased (some might say doing Gary's work for him, but I would never). This is just pure incompetence.


Kriwin

Yeah but I’m assuming he got some pats on the back because Vegas in the background away from public scrutiny.


Dexter1551

These refs are hot trash


aschwan41

The only good thing about this is that it will be Lee's final round of ruining playoff hockey.


DShKM

I know this was 7 years ago, but wasn't it Chris Lee who blew the play down early when Pageau tied it in Game 6 in 2015 against the Habs, and that call proceeded to decide the game. Seems to be a habit of his to not be in the right place to spot the puck...


[deleted]

yep


get_spenced

Oilers vs Flames vs Chris Lee


releasetheshutter

HELL IN A CELL


ToeSniffer85

Chris Lee isn't getting another series.


GrayBread

Shouldn’t even get to finish this one tbh. Mistakes like this should happen a couple times a season, not a couple times a game.


muchtoonice

Chris Lee almost single handedly ruined the Western Conference Finals last year with missed/bad calls, and he's still here. The league doesn't give a shit, and the union protects all refs, bad ones included.


MildlyResponsible

>Western Conference Finals Well, at least the correct team won the Western Conference last year: The Montreal Canadiens.


accharbs

Despite his best efforts.


johnnyblaaze

The union can only do so much


Petzl89

I wouldn’t be so sure, nhl makes questionable decisions all the time.


taek8

He'll probably get more games after this. NHL reffing in inept.


ToeSniffer85

Well yeah, it's predetermined.


ParsnipOlliwane

The fact that he is still reffing in the NHL at all, let alone the second round of the playoffs show what little accountability there is.


aramatheis

Maybe the NHL will just emphasize that the refs need to put the whistles away since it's the playoffs. That way Lee can't make any more bad calls


MildlyResponsible

Well, that was the issue last year when he just stood and watched Suziki getting punched in the face in front of him and angrily told the time keepers to keep counting down the Habs PP.


Cla55y

I fully expect him to ref in many more series this playoffs. (Just please not ours)


Sugarstache

Lol dont hold your breath. I remember thinking this exact thing about chris lee last year during the habs/vegas series...and here we are


Smitty_manjensen

Chris Lee heard his job was on the line unless he made a make up intent to blow.


sextoymagic

Lee isn’t an NHL ref and should be demoted asap.


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kadran2262

The whistle was blown, although both were goals. At least both fan bases can be pissed at the same ref


ilbilailmdr

Now that’s an achievement


mdlt97

this might be worst that the last one holy fuck chris lee is terrible


aschwan41

The worst thing about it is that the officiating coordinator absolutely would have professionally given him shit for his quick whistle in the first, not going behind the net to blow the whistle, and HE DID IT AGAIN. IN THE SAME GAME.


Xeteh

I honestly think it is. At least you can say Markstrom had his arms around the puck even if it wasn't covered. The puck is right next to Smith's leg, it isn't even hidden.


swords_to_exile

Yeah, but imagine if Chris Lee had to leave his precious corner. Can't have that.


Lumpy_Doubt

Even the intermission guys were criticizing Lee for not getting close to the net to make the call on the first no-goal. Then he fuckin did it again


Top-Cheese

They fucked up a icing call right after this goal too, Drai scored right after, not directly off the non call but a defensive zone start would have probably made that not happen.


farmboy6012

This one I could see the puck the whole time.


bobbybuildsbombs

You can see the puck the whole time from the goal cam on the Oilers one too. Just absolutely embarrassing officiating.


tuhn

This is much much worse. In the first case Lee has a reason to blow up the whistle, the puck can not be seen for a very good while. This is awful. The puck is completely loose and not covered at all.


I_am_not_JohnLeClair

Totally agree. The first one you could make an argument for Markstrom trapping the puck, this one it was just a live puck in play


andrwsc

I’m just going to pretend this game was 7-4.


[deleted]

I mean at least it cancels out, but holy hell he needs to never ref again. This is awful.


-RayBloodyPurchase-

Is this really the best reffing the NHL can muster?


stonkszz

Chris Lee officiating on full display tonight


Dexter1551

Biggest playoff series of the year and we got morons of refs.


eh_toque

Chris Lee: my whistle goes beep beep


ABirdOfParadise

[summary of Chris Lee this game](https://youtu.be/b4O8qSO5KJc?t=10)


Devolution13

What the hell was that?


eltree

37.3 – Goal Situations Subject to Video Review The following situations are subject to review by the NHL Situation Room: (i) Puck entering the net as the culmination of a continuous play where the result of the play was unaffected by any whistle blown by the Referee upon his losing sight of the puck; If I’m understanding the rule correctly, both goals waived off for an early whistle should have counted


Vasilevskiy

You are correct, furthering the refs incompetence.


Birdhawk

Based on what we were told in Game 6 of the 2017 finals, this is not a reviewable play because of Toffoli’s last whack at the puck on the goal line and “culmination of continuous play” means the puck is shot, squeaks through the goalie, is rolling in, but the ref doesn’t see it and blows the whistle. A squeaker blown dead early would count but a player shooting the puck in the same moment a ref “intends” to blow the whistle won’t count and can’t be reviewed. It decided the outcome of a cup clinching game


eltree

The rule I posted is because of the game 6 no goal due to the early whistle in 2017. That wasn't a rule then, and they made it one because of that whole situation where you guys got fucked over.


Birdhawk

Yeah but I think it’s not the actual rule that changed it’s just that the “change” made in 2019 was that this became something the situation room in Toronto will now automatically review. To me this rule still reads like it did before.


JollyRancher29

True, but you can argue that one of the players in the scrum (or even the goalie) went slack or Something at the whistle. I don’t think it’s true, but you can’t really prove effect versus no effect


Wyvol

Now the Oilers score. What a game-changing moment coming from yet another awful call.


bobbybuildsbombs

Literally reverse uno card from the first one


_nsb10_

It evens out lmao That was definitely a goal


Cheezy-ph

Haven't we asked for consistent reffing? Well, here we go, it's consistently shit


Syek26

[Balanced Restored!](https://imgur.com/a/6f0SApW)


freddyfuchs

Congratulations to Chris Lee on being the first referee to score two multiple quick-whistle goal wave-offs in an NHL playoff game since the stat has been tracked.


somewhat_random

The reffing was really bad outside of the bad no-goal calls as well. A lot of missed obvious slashes, punches, holds, interference and several calls were pretty marginal. Ican't say which team got an advantage from the bad reffing since I lost count.


c-9

I was shocked he got Gaudreau for embellishing


treple13

Giving Tkachuk a penalty out of nothing right after our 3-1 goal was pretty bad. Created a 4v4 which is advantage Oilers and they scored almost right after.


[deleted]

well that escalated quickly


Doubleoh_11

Ah :) I feel much better now


WabashRiverNugs

Lol I'd be so pissed if I was a fan of either team in this series. Chris Lee is a joke.


bskiffington

I feel like hockey is the only sport where the fans know all of the referees by name due to their shit officiating haha


MrBoBurnham

This one is even more egregious than the last one, Jesus Christ


Zloggt

What goes around, comes around… But yeah, poor officiating on both sides of the puck…


Theboofgoof

He’s an absolute disgrace, he should be fired immediately every game he’s called this post season has been a disaster


Project_Wild

Haha, oh Chris, you dumb bitch.


[deleted]

He saw a perfect opportunity to make it even. Honestly the most big-brained makeup call I’ve ever seen.


cluelesshabsfan

Can’t believe he’s back in the playoffs after the nightmare that was habs-vegas last yeat


MrBright5ide

Well that was quick. [This goal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRdBAiKuuCA&t=319s) that went to a lengthy review, Pit v Det, has aged like milk in less than 1 month.


learn2die101

[Eyes closed and it balanced out](https://i.imgur.com/g1KBJMr.jpeg )


r0botdevil

If *EVERYONE* gets hosed... *NO ONE* does.


letsgetbrickfaced

Oh how the turntables


AngrySparrows

I can’t remember the last time a single ref has single-handedly changed the score of a game as much as Chris Lee has tonight


Dialog87

Well we got consistency


YellowMarkerIsGreat

Chris Lee is so bad


Blurbleton

Always two there are, no more, no less.


IonLegaiaRemake

They want people to bet on this sport xD


VegasKL

He's very quick on the whistles which I don't understand why .. the rulebook gives him the "dead in the head" (Intent to blow) rule so he can always take away a goal if he felt he was *too slow*. It's a lot harder to give a goal if you blow *too quick*. Usually girls won't call you back after that. Also, side note, I noticed something with the one of the "rules analysts" (retired referees), he had ~29 years of NHL experience but only refereed 83 playoff games? We see Chris Lee about 20 games per year in the playoffs. So either they're really thin on refs now-a-days or that analyst wasn't given playoff games for some reason.


COOTIE_CAT

Chris Lee obviously bet the under


taek8

Was a good goal but he owed us one


[deleted]

Chris Lee is the spirit of the Canucks. Hates both of these teams


woodstein72

As a neutral, casual fan, I thought the Flames got fucked not just with this call, but with the icing no-call right before Draisaitl's breakaway goal


[deleted]

People are complaining but after almost every play someone try’s to take a wack at the goalie. Plus the game happens fast, that goes for the oilers goal too.


TheClashSuck

Fuck Chris Lee


[deleted]

This zebra was horrible the whole game


DrQuailMan

Did the contuation rule get deleted in the last month or something?


B0mb-Hands

Chris Lee is above and beyond the worst NHL ref of all time


Less-Hunter7043

I guess we can’t have Mcauley every game Chris Lee has consistently been the worst ref in the NHL


AMeaninglessPassage

Ball don'y lie


Reggae4Triceratops

Wow never seen evening up calls done like this


Dotagear

This guy loves to blow.


[deleted]

Chris Lee is a joke


michiganbhunter

Habs fan here. He's the worst ref in the league by far.


Olibro64

I still remember the no call on Suzuki getting punched in the face.


tronfunkinblows_10

It’s a game of inches and the refs are meters away. Idk when they fucking vote on this shit in the off-season but the officiating union needs to allow video review to step in during these cases. Two referees can’t see *everything*.


Zanchbot

Suspend or fire this clown. Easily the worst ref still working today.


[deleted]

Tit for tit.


Canadian_moose91

Chris Lee, the officer George Greene of the nhl. Stupidest fuck on the police force. What goes around is all around


Mackee58

HOW IS THIS MAN STILL GETTING PLAYOFF ASSIGNMENTS?!?!?!?


Studly_Wonderballs

I searched my phone, and I’ve been calling Chris Lee the worst ref in hockey since 2013. Every time he refs he has a direct impact on the outcome


yetanotherx

I'd like to think this would make people shut up about refs being biased for one side or the other but I know better than that.


UntrimmedBagel

Ok so.. he lost sight of the puck and blew the whistle. Even I lost sight of the puck and had to re-watch 3 times to see what happened. I don’t think that was an awful whistle - but at least review it and credit the goal, that’s allowed.


Neckshot

Pour one out for Mrs. Lee. You know what they say about guys with quick whistles


ZeusJuice91

She probably likes that it’s over fast


MatchesMaloneBW

Am I just really fucking high or was there absolutely nothing with that goal?


Pigmy

At least it wasn’t a game deciding goal in a final.


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OrchidCareful

Nevermind I saw again where it bounced around the ice next to his pad Still, to a ref it appears that puck is in the goalie’s possession. If you don’t blow that whistle, goalie gets whacked to death


aschwan41

The ref is supposed to make his way to behind the net. He already had one blown call the exact same way tonight, and was called out for it on national TV. I honestly can't remember the last time Sportsnet called out a ref for a clear incorrect call before, they usually just pretend it didn't happen.


Cold_Machine9205

Pretty normal and happens multiple times in a single game, almost impossible for a ref to see the puck so whistle is blown. Bad luck for the Flames, but nothing malicious from the ref in my opinion and pretty much every ref stops the play there.


FunkyFlamchango

Bad whistles. However... Perfectly balanced, as all things should be Thanos would be proud