Photo: Geoff Burke
The eighth-seeded Philadelphia Flyers are down 2-0 in their first-round series against the Washington Capitals. Despite outshooting the Caps 61-54, the Flyers have been outscored 6-1. The Caps have received superior goaltending, but if you ask Flyers forward Ryan White, something else is afoot.
“We’re playing the Presidents’ Trophy champs,” White said to the Courier-Post’s Mark Trible. “They’re gonna get a lot of calls. Everyone wants them to keep winning. We’ve just gotta keep playing. We’ve got to push through it and keep our noses to the grindstone and keep getting at it.”
White suggests that the officiating has been slanted towards the Capitals so far in the series. He is wrong.
Both teams have had eight power plays through two games. Philly has been penalized more (43 to 33 PIMs), but if you subtract White’s end-of-game 10-minute misconduct from Game One, both teams are even there too.
I also compiled a list of the Flyers’ minor penalties from both Game One and Game Two that resulted in a Capitals power play. I have bolded the penalties that were not subjective.
Flyers Minor Penalties That Resulted in a Caps PP
- Mark Streit ‘Holding’ against Daniel Winnik (2:57 of Period 2 in Game One)
- Ryan White ‘Charging’ against Dmitry Orlov (8:50 of Period 2 in Game One)
- Brandon Manning ‘Delaying Game – Puck over glass’ (16:02 of Period 2 in Game One)
- Philadelphia bench minor – Too many men on the ice (2:30 of Period 3 in Game One)
- Sam Gagner ‘High-sticking double minor’ against Brooks Orpik (5:28 of Period 3 in Game One)
- Brandon Manning ‘Holding the stick’ against Evgeny Kuznetsov (13:32 of Period 1 in Game Two)
- Mark Streit ‘Holding’ against Nicklas Backstrom (16:42 of Period 2 in Game Two)
Almost all of the subjective penalties were obvious calls in their own right.
Ryan White does not have a leg to stand on. I have consulted with my associate Patrick Holden and his professional opinion is that:
Warning: Ryan White has high salt content. Consult with your doctor before taking White. Consume in moderation. https://t.co/eWW4HzQvgx
— pfholden.bsky.social (@pfholden) April 17, 2016
I am in agreement. Would someone please show Ryan White this image, before his salt content reaches an irreversible level?
Caps fans believe that NYR and PIT get favorable officiating in the playoffs, while WSH gets boned. This won't help. pic.twitter.com/Rg1abpqDpT
— Sick, Unbelievable (@sickunbelievabl) April 13, 2016
