In our continuing quest to deliver quality content and hockey insight, we've started a new column dedicated to all of the bad calls we witness night in and night out.

Before we begin, I would like to state one thing clearly: we, at TheHockeyHub.com, understand that hockey is one of the most difficult sports to referee. However, the quality and consistency of refereeing since the lockout seems, in our minds, to have suffered. So, we will be tracking those calls that we deem questionable, inexcusable or infinitely bad. If you have any you would like to share, please let us know.

4/10/08

New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils:

Less than a minute to play. Rangers on the PP. The Devils have just scored to make it 2-1 and are pressing for that tying goal. They've pulled Brodeur and send the puck in deep to forecheck. At 19:24 of the third, the linesman blows the whistle for icing forgetting to remember that the Devils are shorthanded. Play stops and the Devils bench explodes. John Madden is apoplectic and is ready to eat all four linesmen and refs. I don't know which linesman made the call so I'll list both: Greg Devorski and Brad Kovachik.

4/4/08

New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers: So Gomez is trailing Drew Fata in the Islanders zone and their sticks get tangled up. Gomez's stick approaches Fata's head but doesn't make contact. Fata snaps his head back and grabs his face. Bill McCreary raises the arm and calls Gomez for high-sticking. The Academy Award goes to Fata for his role in the movie, "I'm Not That Good But I Can Fake It With The Best."

3/22/08

Boston vs. Montreal: Steve Begin vicously cross-checks Marc Savard in the back with both refs in the zone. No call. Now Savvy has a broken bone in his back. Referees for the game: Wes McCauley and Kerry Fraser.

3/2/08

Rangers vs. Hurricanes: Third period with approximately 1:30 left on the clock. Rangers are applying pressure in front of Flyers net when Callahan looks to get a stick on the puck. Brandon Coburn reaches out his glove and grabs onto Callahan's jersey to prevent him from getting to the puck. No call. Offending refs: Rob Shick and Ian Walsh.

2/28/08

Rangers vs. Hurricanes: Second period with approximately 2:30 left in the period. Play stops and before the restart I see Scott Walker heading to the box. And then Sean Avery. It's a Canes broadcast so I get to hear my buddy John Forslund say it's a Canes penalty. But wait, Sean Avery is also heading to the box. Two minutes goes up on the board and then the linesmen go to each player and direct them to the locker rooms. Forslund's buddy, Tripp Tracy, says it must be more than two minutes, otherwise they'd stay in the box. Sure enough, it's ten minute misconducts for each. The replay shows each player mouthing off to the other. That's it. No contact, nothing. And the ref in question: Bill McCreary.