Why Games are Managed

It's Saturday morning, and I have a choice between writing this post or watching this crap.  So I'm writing.

My last post explored the concept of Game Management by NHL referees.  Basically, the theory is that the referees try to make games more palatable to fans by calling penalties according to certain formulas (or patterns).  There was no groundbreaking revelations in that post - intelligent hockey fans have made those deductions for themselves and have probably detected more formulas than was listed.

This post is to be more conspiratorial.  Let's discuss "Why".  Why does the NHL want their games managed?

Well, the first reason is easy enough to determine.  The NHL argues that exciting hockey is generated by games that are close.  Like casual hockey fans, the NHL would like the score of the game with 5 minutes remaining to be withing one goal.  In their opinion, which has been expressed in interviews, fans enjoy games more when the score is close.  Which is correct, of course.  The NHL, however, will take steps to ensure that games remain close in order to increase attendance which increases their revenue make it more exciting for the fans.  So, the first reason is that they believe "close games make money".  I can write a 1000-word post on how wrong this is, but will leave that for another day. (Quickly: referees are contributing to the game's outcome - BAD).

The other reason we'll explore is more of an theory, because no actual physical evidence exists.  No newspaper would touch this.  Gambling.  I am not accusing any active referee was involved in a points-shaving scheme, but I'm raising the question.  If an NBA referee could do it, what would stop an NHL referee?  We've already proven that NHL referees have a direct impact on the outcome or score of games and have identified the formulas that they use to do so.  What stops a referee from betting on a game and then calling the game's penalties to influence the score?  How easy would it be for a referee to call the game to keep the score close to help his bet?  Or worse, how easy is it for organized crime to be involved?

The next post will look at what can be done.  Because something needs to be done.

Game Management in the NHL

The NHL uses, for various reasons, what I like to call "Game Management".  There - it's been said.  And it is on the Internet so it must be true, right?

Actually, it is true.  And we all know it.  But what is it?  What is "Game Management"?

It is the NHL's practice of controlling the outcome of games by controlling aspects of each game.  Before we look at "why", lets look at "how" the NHL manages games in this post.


How the NHL Manages their Games

The NHL manages their games by using their officials to influence hockey games through penalty calls or non-calls.  If we watch an NHL game with a copy of the NHL Rulebook in our hands, you will notice that a significant amount of the gameplay rules are not called as they appear in writing. When reviewing the rulebook, referees are granted discretion in determining the severity of a penalty (Major vs Minor) but not in calling the penalty.  The word "Any" is used to describe the criteria for calling a penalty, as in Any Action... or ...any player....  Check out the rulebook for more instances, but the fact remains that referees are not provided the right to discretion when calling penalties, if we look at the rulebook.  If a referee sees a penalty they should be calling the penalty.  But they don't. 

If you've ever watched a NHL Hockey game, you have examples of obvious penalties that were not called.  You've seen, and probably yelled about, that missed hooking call.  Or that tripping penalty that didn't get called.  Sure, hockey is a fast game and the referees have a tough job, but there is something else, a certain "je ne sais quoi".

Actually, je sais quoi.  The referees manage hockey games.  Maybe not every game, but most.  How?  They are deciding which penalties to call at what times.  They have penalty formulas to manage games.  These formulas are the the patterns used by the referees during games to call penalties.  Here are three formula's I've been able to identify:
  1.The "Keep it Fair" formula.  The referees will call the game to ensure that both teams will end up with the same number of penalties.  This formula has not been used as much since the lockout, but you'll still see it from time to time.
  2. The "Home Team".  The penalties are called with an eye to keeping the hometown fans happy with the opposing teams (aka The Heel) getting the bulk of called penalties regardless of the actual infractions that occur on the ice.
  3. The "Keep it Close" formula.  This is the most common formula, and has been used since ...well, ever. Here is how it works:
       a. Call the penalties pretty even through the first half of the game until a lead is built.  The new twist to this is that the 5-on-3 situations have to bee even as well.
       b. Start calling penalties against the leading team, but don't make it too obvious.  They may even throw in another 5-on-3 as well.
       c. With between eight to fourteen minutes left, call a penalty against the trailing team. 
       d. In fact, if a lot of penalties are being called against the leading team the referee can call another penalty against the trailing team - for appearances, y'know?

This post's contention, which has been logically laid out above, is that NHL referees actively attempt to influence the score and even outcome of NHL games.

Why?