Dean Lombardi, Kings GM, Facing Discipline for Critical Comments

The Los Angeles Kings started the season well, but not much has gone right as of late. Their latest loss came Thursday night, when Phoenix beat them 2-0 at Staples Center.

The game wasn't without controversy, though it really didn't erupt until after it had ended.

Midway through the second period, Phoenix took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Martin Hanzal. The goal was allowed to stand, even though it appears obvious on replay that the puck was played with a high stick.



After the game, Kings general manager Dean Lombardi and coach Terry Murray unloaded on NHL Hockey Operations, which made the call in Toronto to allow the goal to stand.

"When the guy in Toronto making the decisions on the goals, in Ottawa and the one tonight, wanted the G.M.'s job in L.A. and was not happy about not getting it, you have to assume you are going to get those type of calls."
-- Kings GM Dean Lombardi Lombardi went right after the NHL's Mike Murphy, who was on call in Toronto and was the one reviewing this play.

"When the guy in Toronto making the decisions on the goals, in Ottawa and the one tonight, wanted the G.M.'s job in L.A. and was not happy about not getting it, you have to assume you are going to get those type of calls,'' Lombardi told the Kings' website. "However, we have put ourselves in a position where these calls have a monumental effect on our season, and we're going to have to find a way out of it ourselves.''

The call Lombardi referenced in Ottawa, as noted by Puck Daddy, happened late in a November game that Ottawa ended up winning. Ryan Smyth's apparent game-tying goal was waved off by a high stick, and that call was upheld on replay. Watching that video, the call looks inconclusive at best, and had it been ruled a goal on the ice, that call probably would have been allowed to stand.

The fact that indisputable evidence is needed to overturn the call on the ice would make it tough to argue that Smyth's goal should have counted, even though it appears to have probably been good. On replay, probably doesn't get the job done.

Murray also criticized the Hanzal goal, but was much less pointed than his boss.

"I don't know why we have video replay in the National Hockey League,'' Murray said. "That's all I can say. If the replay is there for review of goals and non-goals... I don't know. You've got a guy who gets credit for the goal. He's 6-foot-6, and the stick is up above his head. Matt Greene is 6-3, and he's batting the puck down his his hand beside his ear, and the net is four feet high. It doesn't add up.

"It makes no sense. No sense. How does it get called on the ice a goal, first of all, and then how does the replay hold it up? I don't know. I don't have an answer.''

For the record, Murphy told Fox Sports West there was no conclusive look that would allow them to overturn the call on the ice.

Lombardi is likely facing discipline from the NHL. Darren Dreger notes the league will first confirm the authenticity of the comments. Not helping Lombardi's case would be the fact the comments were first published on the team's official website.

Murphy played in the NHL for the Kings, actually coached the team for a time, and was the subject of Vancouver fan conspiracy theories during the Canucks-Kings playoff series last spring.

Apparently, he now hates the Kings. Funny how that comes full circle.