New York Islanders: Embellishment is ruining hockey

A recent New York Islanders game showed how ridiculous embellishment is getting.

Listen I am no stickler for rules here. I rather see a physical brand of hockey on the ice, where penalties are slim. However, penalties are a part of the game, and more often than not they play a crucial role in the final score. That being said, embellishment has been impacting the scoreboard more than it should be, particularly in the last two games between the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders.

And when it is a rivalry of any kind, whether it be a Rangers and Islanders game or a Penguins and Flyers game, tensions flare up, players get into it. I have noticed, especially from the Rangers side, not that the Islanders side is not guilty of this, the acting and embellishing to draw penalties.

I get what the job of the players is, which is to draw penalties since an abundance of power play opportunities usually bodes well for a team to skate off the rink with two points.

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But this is now two games in a row against the Islanders, where the Rangers have received an advantage due to this style of play. And for an Islander fan, and a fan of the game, I respect opposing players, even if they dawn the red, white, and blue I was taught to hate.

However, that respect is starting to dwindle after three Rangers in Artemi Panarin, Jesper Fast, and now Brendan Lemieux are guilty of this. Because it is still fresh in everyone’s minds, last night Scott Mayfield speared Lemieux, resulting in a double-minor.

Taking another look, the correct call was made, as Mayfield clearly spears Lemieux. However, he should be up for an Oscar Nomination as he dives back to gain more attention with some theatrics.

The Rangers were able to turn a 4-0 game into a close one, scoring twice on this elongated power play.

Flashback to the last meeting back on Jan. 16th. with under a minute to go in regulation, in a tie game. Derick Brassard cross-checks Jesper Fast in the corner, who goes flying into the boards to sell it. Rangers capitalize on that powerplay with 24.6 seconds to go and the Islanders lose the game.

Earlier in that game, Panarin was hooked, but decides to sell it even more, for which he gets called for embellishment.

It takes 10 seconds for the officials to look at a video monitor and deem embellishment. Again, all the calls that were made were for sure penalties. But if you are going to make it seem like a hit or a trip was worse than it actually was, you need to be in the box as well.

Every play in the entire National Hockey League is guilty of this. Players are taught that when they feel a stick on them or at their skates, to fall down. But with technology, in a matter of seconds, embellishment can be ruled.

Now, this could go in two ways. Either both head to the box if there was a penalty committed, or if there was actually no penalty on the play, just the player who faked it is off for two minutes. Quick and easy. Another option is using a coach’s challenge for this as well, but that may be too time-costly.

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Hockey has never and will never be a soft sport. Yet, plays like these shine a negative light on the hard work and dedication of these athletes, and to commit this act in big situations to gain an advantage is not the kind of hockey fans want to be watching.

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