OPTICAL ILLUSIONS?

Last night I made mention the fact J.S. Giguere's equipment gets called into question, (By both observers and fellow goalie union members alike) and that the NHL seldom checks his, or any other goaltender's gear for conformance.

Guess who was listening? Kay Whitmore -- the man in charge of goalie gear legalities for the NHL.

Kay fired off a post game e-mail to me informing me that, among other things:

- All gear is measured by his office prior to being sent to the team/goalie
- All goalies have been checked after a game.
- All goalies will be checked prior to the playoffs.
- Dallas goalies were checked in Detroit last week.

As for Mr. Giguere. Kay said he was inspected on March 5th and is legal "as the rules are written today".

My point to Kay was that the goalies themselves have been most vociferous when speaking about how infrequent the checks have been, knowing full well that goalies will add a foot if they are afforded an inch. Chris Osgood said so much during a piece that ran during Hockey Night in Canada's coverage on Saturday.

What size respecting goaltenders across the league want is a level playing field. Just like what the skill players wanted prior to the lockout was a reduction or elimination of the hooking and holding that was allowing inferior players to cheat their way to equal footing.

Anyway, I've always found it curious that NASCAR tests, finds and fines "cheaters" yet hockey never does?

Thanks for the knowledge Kay -- and the Nielsen rating point.