As for the goal, I'd hate to be the guy making that call. Alfie definitely angled his skate there to direct the puck in, but I can see how they say there was no distinct kicking motion.

As for the hit, it should've been a 5-minute elbowing call, but it shouldn't be a suspension just cause the refs missed it and I'm confident that Colin Campbell will do the right thing; he's no David Stern and almost always makes the right decision. You could see the bruise as McAmmond was getting up, where Pronger caught him in the back of his neck with the forearm. But still, there's a big difference between a major and a suspension. I think a fine may be in order.

If the NHL wants the Senators to win the cup so badly why don't they just give it to them instead of using the thinly veiled method of having the on ice officials ignore every Senator penalty and call every ticky-tack penalty they can imagine on the Ducks. The Video official should be fired. Alfredson clearly snapped his foot out to kick the puck in the net. Whatever happened to letting the players decide the game? This series is a disgrace so far, call it evenly both ways and let the players decide who is better.

It was a bad call, he clearly kicked it, the Ducks seemed to fall apart after it happened.

I have a hard time seeing Pronger NOT getting suspended for that hit, considering he already got suspended in game 4 of the last series.

I was happy with game 3, becasue even though I'm a big Sens fan, they were getting outplayed and outworked in game 1, and even more so in game 2. Not the case in game 3, and now its a series again. They still got a lot of work to do, but if they can win in game 4 and head back to Anaheim all squared up, you gotta think they will have momentum on thier side...

Chris Pronger is quickly becoming the dirtiest player in the NHL. He deserves a multiple game suspension for what he did - he should probably sit out for the rest of the finals.

This series so far looks alot like the old NHL. Pronger's hit was as dirty as they come. Just look at his facial expression as he is driving his elbow into McAmmond's head. I'm no big fan of either team, but Pronger should get another suspension and he has no one to blame but himself.

Pronger will get suspended, and then get what is coming to him.

He is a thug and a *$&&# who can't play the game, so he compensates for his lack of ability with trying to hurt the opponents.

He is a loser and I hope he never comes close to touching the cup.

The refs were terrible. Pronger's hit was a penalty and so were 3 - 4 hits from Neil.

And if that wasn't a "kicking motion" please tell me what is. The good thing is the Sens put some life back into the series. Let's see if they can tie it up to make things real interesting. I hate when the last hockey game of the year is over.

This series could turn in to "old time hockey" if the refs let another game get away from them.

Coming from a Red Wings' fan, I do believe Pronger's a dirty player at times. He's a solid defenseman, but when things aren't going well, he plays dirty. The hit on Holmstrom was cowardly. This hit was cowardly. He plays like a coward in situations like these. He deserves to be suspended for games 4 AND 5 to really send a message to him. I hope this hit changes the series and the Senators just come back with a vengeance(like in game 3) and win the series.

I am so sick of Pronger. How can this guy commit two major-worthy penalties in the playoffs and not have a single one called (I remind you that the Holmstrom hit got Rob Niedermayer, not Pronger, a penalty.). The league went soft on him for the Holmstrom hit suspending him for only one game, and clearly he learned nothing from his time off. If they do not suspend Pronger for at least two games I will have lost all faith in the NHL. If it had been someone like Sean Avery throwing that elbow, after hitting Holmstrom in the head, he would be done for the playoffs. It's time for the NHL to be consistent and to show some tough love to a "superstar".

To the anonymous Pronger hater who says he should never touch the Cup: Pronger's hit definitely should have been penalized, but to say he can't play the game at all and makes up for it by being a goon is ridiculous. He has a tremendous defensive presence and is one of the more dominant blueliners of his generation. (I'm not a Ducks or Pronger fan, personally, just acknowledging talent). You show me a free agency contract for him, and I'll show you 30+ teams calling his agent, including the Senators.

I'd say a suspension, if any, should be one game if judging by the severity of the hit alone. It was "less" of a dirty hit than the Holmstrom one; however, taking into account the fact that he has already been suspended once this playoff season, I could see Campbell sending a message about repeat offense and opting for two or even three.

A very exciting game, I can't understand why all my neighbors don't watch this excellent sport.

But the officiating! At least 2 penalties were called on light incidental contact, yet the blow-to-the-head deliberate attempt to injure was let go? And the kicked-in goal?

There seemed to be a lot of politics involved in the referees' decision-making. NHL has to watch this kind of officiating, or hockey will increase its reputation hereabouts as a sport something similar to Roller Derby.

It's all about the money. The NHL needs this series to go 7 and keep the game on network TV. That is the ONLY explanation for the Alfredsson goal. The Ducks were in danger of making it a 4 game series. Next in line... a 2 game suspension for Pronger and some more 4 blind mice officiating to get the series even.

If that puck was on a Ducks’ stake it was of course a kick...I think (with the chases of sounding like a conspiracy theorist) that the NHL is just as capable of extending a series as boxing is with rematches. The phantom hook by S. Niedermayer and other phantom calls on the Ducks can be tallied in order of time (shifts in momentum) which should show clearly how this game is being controlled. I hope someone is tallying the phantom calls against the real ones. It will prove that until game 7 the NHL wants as much advertising profit as possible for their network compadres. It only takes a little help to create a momentum shift.

Pronger seems to be too emotional at times and it comes when he seems to be loosing. I think he doesn’t intent on hurting the guy just a dumb and careless move and down goes his opponent. He needs to straighten up; especially if he wants to contribute.

The senators certainly deserved to win that game, but that video review was absolutely RIDICULOUS! How can they possibly allow that goal??? The NHL disallowed the one in the Rangers and Sabres series, and this one was so much more blatant. The refs on the ice were just as biased too, calling every single thing on the Ducks, culminating with Getzlef's with a couple minutes left. That game was disgraceful, let's hope that the rest of the series is decided by the players.

An excellent game -- for once, Ottawa played like a team. Kudo's to Chris Neil for a fabulous game.

Regarding Alfie's goal... could have gone either way. Although, is there a chance that after it went off his foot, it was touched by his stick? It was really close -- watched it a couple of times on Tivo and wasn't sure.

Pronger's a great player -- but that was a lousy play. He'll sit at least one game. If not, then the league is trying to make right for NBC with the Alfie's goal.

The Pronger hit was an emotional outburst. He should be suspended for the rest of the finals.

Pronger can play, he's not just a goon, but that was a dirty hit, and as a repeat offender he should sit AT LEAST two games. I want to see skill with big hits, not thuggary.
As an Islander fan, I don't care which team wins, I just want to see good hockey and good calls. So far this series hasn't offered much of either. Why are the Ducks allowed to cross check guys out of their crease with no penalty all night, then the refs make phantom calls against them on other plays, then they miss the Pronger call. It makes no sense. Until the league improves its officiating, I can't get non-hockey friends interested in the sport. They think it is a joke because the rules aren't enforced consistently and I have no way of defending these refs!

I'm a LA Kings fan. That being said, the last thing I want to see is a Duck holding the Cup before my Kings.

However, the Ducks got totally screwed in Game 3. Clearly, this was a pre-determined outcome. Bettman needs a decent finals, or he'll be scrambling to keep his job.

The goal allowed ... ridiculous. The Pronger hit.... unnecessary. The ticky-tack calls on the Ducks and the no-calls on the Sens ... what a joke. I counted at least 5 times a Duck dumped the puck in the corner and was held by the defence. Ummm, where did the inteference calls go all of a sudden?

This was worse than professional wrestling. Bettman needs this to go at least 6, and I wouldn't be shocked to learn that he made a call to the booth on the kicked-in "goal". Did you see Alfie's expression after it was allowed? He knew he kicked it in. PATHETIC!!

Am I'm not a Ducks fan. I truly believe if the Sens were up 2-0 in the series and a Duck kicked it in, it would have also been allowed. My point is Bettman is influencing the outcomes to save his job.

pronger? only from one angle can you see his elbow fly out, since it was close to his body,s o it could be missed. BUT how did the officials at least not call interference? That would be my concern if I was head of officiating. Terrible.
Alfie? Tough call for on-ice officials to get right. In the subtlety of slo-mo, good call.

The Pronger hit was not that bad. He was just finishing the hit. Neil's hit earlier in the game was much worse. Just because someone gets hurt does not make it a penalty.

And the goal was kicked in.

Chris Neil is the best player for Ottawa. He plays with his heart. He can disturb Anaheim. See what he did or said to Scott N., then to #23 Beauchemin. It must have been awful; two guys jump on him and that started a fight. That was right after the elbow. I believe this was an accident, Pronger is so tall. He did not swing his elbow, did he? But very dangerous to be hit on the neck.
Then poor Kunitz did not last long. Who hit him that bad?
Anahei m let Ottawa win last night. Nobody wants a riot in Ottawa and go after the head of Alfie. The poor #11 has a lot on his shoulder. He should not.

What the hell is everyone talking about the ducks getting cheated. Allfes goal was in he directed it in he didnt kick it. Your allowed to direct you know. Neils hits were all clean just because you lay somebody out doesnt make it a penalty. Fianlly Pronger's hit was probably the dirtiest of the playoffs a direct elbow to the head because Mcammond scored on him before like come on Pronger grow up. All the penalties were called fairly and the refs are doing a good job. So all you sens haters out there just shut up for a while.

Good to see Pronger get the game suspension. Ottawa's D played better in Game 3 but they still have room for improvement. And the same can be said for Spezza & Co. The Sens other lines played well - realy well. Game 4 should see the Sens regain their swagger but they need to play controlled, smart hockey - get to the front of the net, dump the puck, play the body, etc. If they do that - they'll be fine. Consider they should have won Game 1 & this is a good Cup Series. As for the Ducks - who cares. Only room for one team in the LA market & it isn't the *ucks. They have the talent - so Ottawa has to force the issue. Look for the goalis to bounce back as well.

What kicking motion? Every commentator on TV, whether NBC or CBC, said the same thing on the innumerable replays - the puck hit the skate and was heading toward the goal BEFORE Alfredson's foot moved forward and up. Anybody who says different has some other agenda, like the guy who posted that the NHL powers-that-be have some kind of conspiracy to give the series to Ottawa. Right - just what the NHL brass want, a Stanley Cup won by the 3rd smallest TV market in the league.

Upfront, I'm a Sens fan. While the Pronger hit was dirty, it doesn't warrant any more than a one game suspension. Let's face it...alot worse goes unpunished most of the time. He's a big guy, and an elbow to someone's body is head high for Pronger. One game is justice. More is overkill.

To all you conspiracy theorists, who think the refs/league are biased to certain teams...GET OVER YOURSELVES. I've heard theories that the league wants the Ducks to win. The Rangers. The Penguins. The Sabres. The Sens. Its all BS. The power of suggestion on your simple minds is amazing. You see one or two bad calls, suddenly its a conspiracy. Bad/good calls go both ways. Simple, simple minds...

To Anonymous at 2:46 ...

Okay, so you are a Sens fan. Got it.

Now read back through the posts. Most do not imply that the league it trying to determine who wins. What is being stated is that the league is doing what it can to keep the series going as long as possible.

Bettman screwed up with teh Versus contract. Now with the remainder of the games on NBC, he needs games. He can care less who wins, now that Detroit and other big market teams are out. He just needs games on regular TV.

As I mentioned ina previous post, I have no doubt that if the Sens were up 2-0, the Ducks would have the benefit of all the calls.

It's not a Ducks-Senators series. It's a Bettman saving his job series!!

Those of us on the west coast--other than the automaton fans behind the Orange Curtain--find poetic justice in the suspension to Pronger and the gift goal to Alfredsson. After watching Selanne take dives and whine to the refs all season long, it's about time the
Ducks get some of their own medicine.

I've been at the Ottawa game, and watched the other two. Ottawa is not getting a break on calls by a long shot. If the refs called half of what Anaheim does, it would be 5 on 3 for Ottawa for the full 60 minutes.

With the holding, the grabbing, the cuddling... it looks like Anaheim would be better suited to a ballroom dance showdown in a San Francisco bar.

Is Ottawa getting away with some stuff? Absolutely, but a whole lot less than Anaheim.

As to the questionable goal, ok, let's not count it... Score is still 4-3 Ottawa. Ducks lose.