Believe: Corruption & Shenanigans
1st Period: Blackhawks 2-0 Red Wings
Best of seven: Detroit 2-0 Chicago

This is an outrage! For what possible reason was Kronwall given a game misconduct? For those of you not familiar with the rules of the game, a game misconduct penalty "involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game," i.e., the player is ejected. The hit Detroit's Niklas Kronwall laid on Chicago's Martin Havlat was brutal, but completely clean and well within the N.H.L.'s rules. There is no justification for the zebras' decision to give Kronwall a game misconduct. If Gary Bettman had an ounce of integrity, he'd see to it that this officiating crew is barred from overseeing any other games in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, i.e., denied the chance to throw any other games in favor of one or another side. Of course, we all know that Gary Bettman doesn't have an ounce of integrity.

I cannot be a party to this farce and I refuse to watch anymore. I'll try again on Sunday, and I'll monitor the interweb to see if the league takes any disciplinary action against tonight's referees, though I sincerely doubt anything of the sort will happen. If this naked corruption of the game persists, I will be unable to continue as a fan of professional ice hockey, no matter much much affection I have now and will always have for the Detroit Red Wings. This is a disgrace. For shame!