The NHL should be rechristened. Call it the BSL: the BLOCKED SHOT LEAGUE. That's all anybody does. If that's exciting, I'll eat my hat. Or a puck.
Can't change it. Can't legislate against it. For better or worse, it's here to stay.
The New York Rangers are the prime perps. The Rangers opened the Eastern Conference final with a 3-0 win over New Jersey. The Devils had 21 shots on goal. The Rangers blocked 26. The Rangers don't have one goalie. They have six.
It's not ruining hockey, as some suggest. It just makes the world's most exciting game BORING.
Between the Rangers' shot-blocking and the Washington Capitals' deceleration under now ex-coach Dale Hunter, the Rangers-Caps second-round battle was the first seven-game series in NHL history where neither team scored more than thrice.
If I coached against the Rangers and their maniacal shot-blocking, I would tell my players to shoot the puck at their heads for a period. That's not against the rules, either. Test their resolve to sacrifice for the team.
Put one in Dan Girardi's grill. When he's lying there with his eye in one corner and his teeth in another corner, look down and say, "Hey...nice block."
Example below. Note the shooter.











