Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510160093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That, or maybe referees already are tired of calling obstruction penalties.
Maybe it's a combination of both.
The puck dropped on the ECHL season this weekend, and it will be interesting to see what effect the obstruction rules have on the way games are played. The ECHL decided to follow the lead of the NHL and adopt new rules limiting obstruction, interference and holding in an effort to open up the ice and clean up play in the neutral zone.
The intent of the rules is to make games cleaner and faster and to increase scoring. Players and coaches had their first experience with the new rules during the preseason, when the referees seemed to make fewer obstruction calls late in games.
Only four obstruction penalties were called in the Roanoke Express' exhibition game against Hampton Roads on Tuesday. Two were called against each team, none in the third period.
Either the players are getting the message and are adapting to the rules, or referees are swallowing their whistles late in games.
The refs appeared to be swallowing their whistles late in the exhibition season, too. No obstruction penalties were called in the past week's Hampton Roads-Richmond exhibition game.
That trend likely will continue throughout the season. There may be a ton of obstructions called early in the season, but the calls almost certainly will dwindle as the season progresses. Whether the new rules force some rough-and-tumble teams such as Hampton Roads to change their style remains to be seen.
If the teams that historically have favored physical play have to adapt, then the rule will have had an effect, regardless of whether or not the penalties are whistled as frequently late in the season.
``It's been kind of confusing at times, but I believe the new rules will be fine,'' said Frank Anzalone, the Express' coach. ``Hopefully, a team won't lose a hockey game because of them.''
Even without a penalty box full of obstruction offenders, there was no shortage of penalties in the Express-Admirals game. Twenty minor penalties other than obstruction were called.
Asked whether the new rules were having an effect on the way his team was playing, Hampton Roads coach John Brophy said: ``Oh, sure, but we took some stupid penalties anyway.
``Some of ours would've been penalties back in the World Wars.''
PLAYOFF PICTURE: The playoffs are 51/2 months away, but the ECHL's new playoff format already is causing a stir among some coaches.
Last season, the 16 teams with the best records made the playoffs and were seeded according to their records. This year, the playoffs will include the top five teams in each of the three divisions, plus the sixth-place team with the best record.
That sounds fair, but it is possible for a team to be left out of the playoffs even if it has a better record than a team that qualifies for the playoffs under this system.
Here's a hypothetical: Let's say the Express finishes sixth in a six-team East Division that is the league's best, with all six teams are within 10 to 15 points of each other. Only four other teams in the league have a better record than Roanoke, meaning the Express has the 10th-best record in the 21-team league.
Under the old system, the Express would be seeded 10th in the 16-team playoff field. But, let's say, Wheeling finishes sixth in an equally tough North Division and has a better record than the Express. The Thunderbirds get the wild card and the Express gets an early start on the off-season.
Continuing this hypothetical, what if the South Division is weak? Suppose only one or two of the South's top five teams have better records than the Express. The other three or four South teams still would go to the playoffs - since the top five in each division automatically qualify - and the Express would be home with a better record.
The lesson here: Better finish in the top five of your division and let the other guys fight it out for the wild-card berth.
``I don't know if the owners were drinking tequila or what when they came up with that one,'' Anzalone said. ``Hopefully, we won't need to worry about it. But don't forget, we're in a very tough division. There may not be much difference between the first-[place] team and the fifth-[place] team.''
by CNB