Burrows/Auger aftermath

For the uninformed reader, Canucks recent super scorer (8 goals in 4 games) Alex Burrows had a little something to say about the officiating during his last game, when Stephane Auger foiled a chance for Burrows to pick up his third hat trick in four games. If you are informed, skip the next paragraph or two.

Auger called a phantom interference penalty while the Canucks were on a powerplay, then an additional call on Henrik Sedin, which was his third tripping minor of the night, in turn giving Nashville a four on three powerplay. Well, the Preds have an All-Canadian (god that doesn't sound nearly as cool as All-American) defensmen on their powerplay, and it turns out he has a huge shot. The Canucks found that out when he blew the game winner past Roberto Luongo.

Well, it turns out those phantom penalties were premeditated. According to Burrows, Auger told him before the game that Burrows made Auger look bad the last time the two teams played, and that he was going to get him back for that. Hence the epically brutal officiating.

It's being reported today that after a telephone hearing with NHL warden Colin Campbell that Burrows will have to pay a $2,500 fine (or the equivalent of six minutes ice time) and that Auger won't be punished at all.

We're sure Auger said something to Burrows before the game. We saw it on video. Is it possible that Auger said something different than what Burrows eluded to after the game? Probably. Burrows just played a long, hard fought game and can't be expected to remember word for word what Auger said to him. But one thing we know is that there was undisputed sincerity in the eyes of Burrows, and it wasn't just from the stationary bike he was riding during questioning.

Burrows has never done or said anything like this in his career. He seems to me like a stand-up guy, the kind of guy that doesn't pull an Anson Carter and take off after the Sedins make him look better than he is. I knew that when he signed for eight years at $2 million per.

Campbell actually missed a good opportunity to show that he could truly police everything in the league, not just the players who are committing dirty hits, nor the coach's who call out the refs. It was obvious the penalties were ridiculous. Anyone who's been around hockey and knows what an interference penalty in the NHL looks like could see that. Even Campbell.

And the thing is, we're living in a post Tim Donaghy era where it's okay to reprimand your league's officials to show the public that the integrity of the game is more important than protecting your officials' backs.

Obviously, Auger wasn't about to get suspended for the rest of the year at Burrows' request, but just a game or two suspension might have made everyone sleep a bit easier.