On this week's #RefsPodcast:

Looking at the calls - and non-calls - from Games 5 and 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers

• What happened to all the penalties?
• Is Panthers’ Brad Marchand getting the jump on faceoffs?
• Are the refs ‘letting ‘em play’ or missing calls?
• Florida's Reinhart scores off his skate - legally - in Game 6.
• When was the last time we had no power plays in a Stanley Cup Final?
• Oilers’ Evander Kane picks up a misconduct then skips the handshake line

Rulebook drama in the AHL’s Calder Cup Final between the Charlotte Checkers and the Abbotsford Canucks

• Game 1 saw an overtime game-winning goal called back after the goaltender wasn’t ready for the drop. Whose fault is that? Digging into rules 76 and 83.
• In Game 2, we had a goal disallowed for goaltender interference, only to have the goal count after review… but the scoring team assessed a minor penalty for goaltender interference. There’s only one way that makes sense… and, frankly, we’re not so sure it makes sense here.

...and what will the NHL refs be doing this summer?

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Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• Looking back at Games 3 and 4  of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers as the series shifts south.
• Evander Kane finds himself in penalty trouble early… and again… and again.
• Before the end of the game, both teams piled on the penalty minutes, racking up the fourth-most minutes in a Stanley Cup Final
• Oilers’ Jake Walman commits the cardinal sin of squirting a water bottle, picking up a $5000 fine – and another $5000 for unsportsmanlike conduct against Matthew Tkachuk
• Consistency… or lack thereof.
• Conspiracies… or lack thereof.
• Panthers’ Barkov gets away with a high stick on Edmonton’s Troy Stetcher just prior to a Florida goal.
• Carter Verhaege avoids a penalty for boarding on a hit from behind on Evan Bouchard
• Jeff Skinner holds Dmitry Kulikov’s stick for an entire shift - from puck drop until a goal is scored - with no call.  Kulikov attempts to seek out revenge with an equally-unpenalized flying elbow.  Sure, Skinner avoided contact and possible injury on the play, but does that mean Kulikov should get off scot-free?
• Linesman Ryan Gibbons keeps the arm up for icing, even after getting tangled up with Evander Kane. Focus!
• You can’t do a line change after an icing, so why can you put the goalie back into an empty net?
• The NHL Awards have been handed out but we’re still missing one very important award.

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Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

------------------

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

------------------

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

------------------

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• Was it a kick? Or a deflection? Or both? Stars/Jets gives us a controversial goal that went off Alex Petrovic’s skate, off goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s stick and in. Did the Situation Room make the right call?

• Official injury updates; two linesmen are out for the playoffs

• NHL Series Supervisors - who are they and what do they do?

• Dallas Stars’ Mason Marchment slashes referee Graham Skilliter - and gets away with it

• A crosscheck to the face results in a $7000 fine to Vegas Golden Knights’ Nic Roy, which is over the $5000 we always hear is the ‘maximum allowable under the CBA’

• A high stick is legal when it’s a follow-through, but that wasn’t the case for the Winnipeg Jets’ Haydn Fleury.

• Also, it’s not a penalty when you high stick your team trainer, as Tomas Hertl found out.

• Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour was furious after a high-sticking penalty to Jordan Staal was really the result of friendly fire, but not eligible for review. 

• Toronto Maple Leafs’ Max Domi was fined for a late hit on Florida Panthers’ Sasha Barkov, but there was no call and no fine for an attempted elbow by Dmitry Kulikov on Mitch Marner.

• Plus, what is a fight in the IIHF, and how did one scrum result in three fighting majors at France vs. Slovakia? The answer - and the definition - might surprise you.

------------------

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• Creative crowd chants - more than just ‘ref you suck’

• Officials set for the IIHF World Championship as well as in the OHL Championship Series and the USHL Clark Cup Final
• A minor incident at Leafs/Panthers between Sam Bennett and Anthony Stolarz results in an injury but no call, no fine, no suspension
• Referee Wes McCauley is called into duty as a linesman after an injury to Shandor Alphonso, working this lines for the first time in the NHL
• Florida Panthers’ Evan Rodrigues gets crunched into the boards by the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton, with each player picking up a minor penalty on the play as Rodrigues is whistled for embellishment. After review, we’re not so sure about that one…
• Edmonton’s Connor Brown takes a penalty for goaltender interference, but it looks like the contact was caused by Vegas forward Brett Howden
• Vegas Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy gets ejected in overtime - major penalty and game misconduct - for a crosscheck to the face of Edmonton Oilers’ Trent Frederic
• No call in overtime on the Oilers’ Viktor Arvidsson for a dangerous trip on Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who crashed awkwardly into the boards and suffered an injury on the play.
• The Athletic’s Rule Court gives us some interesting suggestions to weigh in on. Our take on possible tweaks to offside, playoff standings, and faceoffs – including one that would have a huge unexpected (and probably well-received) impact.

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Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Round 2 officials announced!
• Double-review in Vegas as the Minnesota Wild's Ryan Hartman has a goal reviewed for a distinct kicking motion... and called back after an offside challenge.
• No penalty but a 2-game suspension to the Panthers' Aaron Ekblad for a hit on the Lightning's Brandon Hagel.
• Major penalty to Florida's Niko Mikkola for boarding Zemgus Girgensons.
• Blues' Brayden Schenn whistled for interference for a hit that injured Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele.
• A pre-game Nylander mix-up nearly costs the Toronto Maple Leafs thanks to Rule 5.2.
• Colorado's Jack Drury gets called for a rare third-period playoff penalty for an obvious faceoff tackle
• Twice, players cover the puck in the crease at Kings/Oilers, and twice no penalty shot is awarded; twice, it should have been.
• Should the playoffs be called the same way as the regular season?
• Allan Walsh is not happy with playoff officiating.
• The Kings' Warren Foegele gets away with a little abuse of officials on liney Libor Suchanek...

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Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• Sad to hear of the passing of longtime NHL linesman Will Norris and AHL linesman Paul Simeon
• Sabres’ Kulich misses the net, hits referee Peter MacDougall
• Liam Maaskant makes his NHL debut on the last day of the regular season
• KHL junior player suspended 7 games for elbowing a ref in the head
• Two game ban for Devils’ Paul Cotter
• No supplemental discipline to Yakov Trenin for his ice-level punch on Derek Forbort
• Oilers’ Darnell Nurse suspended 1 game by Player Safety for cross-checking LA Kings’ Quinton Byfield
• Florida Panthers’ Jesse Puljujarvi banned for 2 games for a headshot on Tampa Bay Lightning’s Mitchell Chaffee
• Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dmitri Voronkov returns to the ice after his penalty is lost in translation
• Possibly the strangest - and potentially rule-breaking - shootout at Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montreal Canadiens.
• Winnipeg Jets winger Nik Ehlers is injured in a collision with linesman James Tobias
• Carolina’s Tyson Jost has a penalty called for an illegal faceoff, only to have it rescinded after the refs get some ‘feedback’ from coach Rod Brind’Amour

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Visit ⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• IIHF Women's World Championship Officials
• Frozen Four Refs and Lineys - Congrats to the Hockey East crew of Jeremy Tufts, Geoff Miller, Kevin Briganti, and Nick Briganti, as well as NCHC officials Ryan Hersey, Nathan Wieler, Tyler Liffrig, and Erik Contino who worked the semis
• Swiss League issues a four-gam ban to Brendan Lemieux for punching a linesman
• The AHL dishes out a 10-game suspension to Bridgeport Islanders' Adam Beckman for hitting referee Mike Dietrich into the boards
• Referee Alex Lepkowski makes his NHL debut at Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
• Los Angeles Kings' Quinton Byfield scores an amazing goal against the Seattle Kraken -- but he should've been called for a minor penalty
• More stick shenanigans at Kings/Ducks after Anaheim challenged - and lost the challenge - on a high stick prior to a Laferriere goal.
• St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington scrapped with Corey Perry, throwing some punches with his catching glove -- but not his blocker, which makes a difference in the rulebook.
• Congrats to linesman Brad Kovachik on 1900 NHL games, 13th all-time among lineys and #1 among active officials. Steve Barton and Kelly Sutherland both recently hit 1600-game milestones.

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Visit ⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• Referee Ghislain Hebert and linesman Derek Nansen hanging up the skates… but not before getting in some late hits, with Nansen laying out Buffalo Sabres’ Peyton Krebs
• Minnesota Wild goaltender Jonas Gustavsson stops the puck on his back and - after review - keeps it from going over the line.
• Florida Panthers’ AJ Greer scores off his skate against the Montreal Canadiens but the goal is immediately waved off… then, after a brief discussion, allowed… then, after video review, called back for a distinct kicking motion. 
• In the PWHL, Montreal’s Kati Tabin picks up a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head, but avoids a suspension
• Referee Frederick L’Ecuyer - who previously brought you “all the other guys gonna have a misconduct” - starts calling out players by name on the penalty announcement
• Carolina Hurricanes’ Jalen Chatfield drops the gloves then goes MMA-style with a judo takedown on Washington Capitals’ Connor McMichael - with no fine or suspension on the play. 
• Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe is awarded a goal after getting tripped up and crashing into the Utah goaltender
• Over in the Swiss League, former NHLer Brendan Lemieux is suspended for accidentally punching linesman Dominik Altmann… and, no, you can’t do that. 
• Anaheim Ducks’ Frank Vatrano holds - then throws - the stick of Calgary Flames’ Blake Coleman. 
• and Congrats to QMJHL linesman Sylvain Losier, who set a league record with 240 playoff games!

Plenty of action on this week’s #RefsPodcast!

------------------

Visit ⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• St. Louis Blues’ Zach Bolduc gets fined for a cross-check on Nashville Predators’ Nick Blankenburg, but avoids a penalty for a hit on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
• Boston Bruins’ Michael Callahan misses his assignment, gets beat on a goal, and cross-checks Anaheim Ducks’ Jansen Harkins in the neck, earning a penalty and a fine. 
• Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola fires a buzzer-beater from the defensive end, barely missing Montreal Canadiens’ David Savard and getting 2 + 10 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• St. Louis also makes like the Harlem Globetrotters, with three consecutive mid0air plays on the puck before scoring – legally.
• Buzzkill in LA as the refs keep us from a goalie fight between Jeremy Swayman and Darcy Kuemper.
• The New York Islanders are once again frustrated with goaltender interference reviews as Kyle Palmieri enters the blue paint and sees his goal disallowed. 
• More disallowed goals at Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars, after the Flames’ have a Connor Zary goal wiped out for a kicking motion and a Joel Farabee marker wiped out for interference. 
• One more crease collision - though a bit more accidental, and outside the blue paint - as Stars’ Mikko Rantanen steamrolls the Edmonton Oilers’ Stuart Skinner with no penalty called.

------------------

Visit ⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• Stripes getting set for the Stadium Series... will we get a Michigan or Ohio official in the house?
• Referee Justin Kea stays in the game after getting his 'bells rung' after a clearing attempt catches him in the undercarriage.
• Minnesota Wild winger Ryan Hartman has his suspension reduced by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, serving two fewer games and retaining nearly $100k in salary as a result of his appeal.
• Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras gets three games for headhunting despite no penalty call in the game. 
• It’s a tale of two goal sticks on dueling goaltender interference calls. We get a Seattle Kraken goal restored after a challenge that Blues defenseman Colton Parayko bumped Jordan Binnington’s stick, along with another lost stick after Florida Panthers’ Jonah Gadjovich swats away the stick of Nashville Predators goaltender Jusse Saros for no goal. 
• We also take a look at a high stick from Los Angeles Kings forward Warren Foegele. Fans were up in arms asking why the Vancouver Canucks challenged for goaltender interference instead of challenging the high stick.

There’s a very simple reason… on this week’s #RefsPodcast.

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Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

On this episode of the Scouting the Refs podcast, Todd and Josh discuss various topics related to hockey officiating, including the ever-increasing effectiveness of Coach's Challenges, some penalty calls from the recent Beanpot tournament, and the differences between NCAA and NHL rules. They also delve into the dynamics of fighting in the Four Nations tournament - which is not exactly an international event as it's played under NHL rules - and provide an update on Ryan Hartman's suspension and appeal. The conversation highlights the evolving nature of officiating in hockey and the importance of understanding the rules across different leagues.

------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Breaking down the ten-game suspension for Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman, and what comes next with his appeal to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and potentially an independent arbitrator. Hartman’s ban is the longest since Washington Capitals’ Tom Wilson was suspended for 20 games - reduced to 14 upon appeal - back in 2018-19. We dig into the appeal process – how Wilson’s was reduced and what might happen for Hartman.

Double-review at Sens vs. Preds as an Ottawa Senators goal is first reviewed by the Situation Room for a continuous play and then challenged for goaltender interference by the Nashville Predators.

A rare ‘offensive’ coach’s challenge from the Winnipeg Jets overturns a goal disallowed due to goaltender interference, actually putting the goal back up on the board. 

More reviews at Leafs vs. Flames, as the Toronto Maple Leafs lose their first goal of the game on a high stick from John Tavares, and the Calgary Flames lose theirs to goaltender interference from the stick of Jonathan Huberdeau on goaltender Joseph Woll. 

Colorado Avalanche’s Miles Wood had a rough night with a pair of penalties, including a minor for slashing that should have been a speaking major. No major penalty called on the play, and nothing from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on that one, despite Rule 62.

Boston Bruins’ Morgan Geekie sends an opposing player’s stick into orbit, picking up an interference minor on the play under Rule 56.2. It's a call every time, even when opposing players pull a .38 Special and 'Hold On Loosely'...

Plus, the NHL’s upcoming Four Nations tournament only has two nations represented in stripes… Missed opportunity?

------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Minnesota Wild’s Ryan Hartman gets a match penalty for intent to injure after he slams the head of Ottawa Senators’ Tim Stutzle into the ice on a faceoff; Hartman will have an in-person hearing - allowing the league to suspend him for five games or more - with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. .  More head contact at Devils vs. Sabres, as New Jersey’s Stefan Noesen catches Buffalo’s Tage Thompson up high, earning a match penalty but no supplemental discipline.

Should the NHL institute a multiplier for suspensions and fines to really up the stakes for repeat offenders?

New Jersey Devils’ Brendan Dillon got away with interference against Philadelphia Flyers’ Owen Tippett, Vegas Golden Knights’ Mark Stone picks up two for tripping after he crashed into Dallas Stars’ Miro Heiskanen - thanks to some stickwork from Roope Hintz.  Edmonton Oilers’ John Klingberg is juuuuuuust a bit offside, but a bit is all it took to wipe out Leon Draisaitl’s goal and foil the Oilers’ comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

St. Louis Blues’ Oskar Sundqvist dives, Tampa Bay Lightning’s Emil Lilleberg gest suspended, and Chicago Blackhawks’ Ryan Donato gets a little help from a ref… 

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Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 231 / January 25, 2025:

It's a jam-packed week with tons of National Hockey League action.

We're also joined by the North American Hockey League (NAHL)'s Keith Kaval and Kendall Hanley to discuss their upcoming NAHL Officiating Exposure Camps to help develop referees and linespersons. You've still got timt to sign up and join them - more info at NAHL.com or check out our post at scoutingtherefs.com.

A pair of cross-checks to the head result in a pair of three-game suspensions at Oilers vs. Canucks, with Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers both sitting out. We break down the penalties and revisit McDavid’s comments on consistency in officiating. The Predators’ Cole Smith ejected for a hit to the head of the Stars’ Ty Dellandrea that was upheld after ref review. 

Stick shenanigans as the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews gets whistled for playing with a goal stick, while Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins picks up a minor for playing with Matthews’ stick. A few days prior, Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick got away with one when he attempted to play with Canadiens’ Juraj Slafkovsky’s stick upside down.

Rule 63 is in play as nachos cleared the glass and entered the attacking zone without a whistle, leading to an Oilers goal against the Capitals.

We’ve also got some choking in Boston thanks to Brad Marchand, that somehow avoided a penalty and even a fine. 

In National Hockey League zebra action, we’ve got linesman Jonny Murray injured at Jets vs. Avalanche and referee Kyle Rehman with the fighting penalty call of the year from Preds vs. Sharks. Let's chuck some knucks!

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Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 229 / January 11, 2025:

A pair of milestone games for refs Eric Furlatt and Chris Rooney, Leafs’ Domi and Senators’ Cousins, Ducks’ Helleson tossed - and nothing more - for kneeing Flames’ Zary. Was it the right call?

Bolts/Bruins get spicy with a Lilleberg cross-check to the face, Bedard kicks it (but does he really?), the ref-cam returns, Quinn Hughes is the man-in-the-box for way longer than expected, and forget missed calls - we’ve got a dropped phone!

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Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 228 / January 4, 2025:

So much for New Year’s Resolutions! The NHL Department of Player Safety has been busy handing out fines to Philadelphia Flyers’ Matvei Michkov (high-sticking), Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Maroon (elbowing), and Florida Panthers’ Sam Bennett (roughing), along with a three-game suspension to Nashville Predators’ Zachary L’Heureux for slew-footing. Finally, the refs and Player Safety called a slew-foot a slew-foot!

New York Rangers’ winger Matt Rempe is still suspended, having served six of his eight-game suspension for boarding Dallas Stars’ Miro Heiskanen. 

We’ve got a bunch of player ejections this week. Boston Bruins’ Oliver Wahlstrom is tossed for boarding Washington Capitals Martin Fehervary,  Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov gets five and a game for a knee-on-knee hit on Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk. Timo Meier of the New Jersey Devils also gets the boot for kneeing Carolina Hurricanes’ Martin Necas. We’ve even got some knee-on-knee action from Team Canada’s Cole Beaudoin at the World Juniors. 

Vancouver Canucks’ Pius Suter avoids a match penalty - and any supplemental discipline - for an attempted kick against Calgary Flames defenseman Joel Hanley. 

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar blasts the refs after they let play continue following an injury to goaltender Scott Wedgewood… but that’s what the rulebook requires.

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Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 227 / December 20, 2024:

With the final #RefsPodcast before Christmas, we look at who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, along with the airing of grievances in the spirit of Festivus!

Linesman Travis Toomey injured, Detroit Red Wings’ Jonatan Berggren fined for cross-checking, San Jose Sharks’ coach Ryan Warsofsky fined $25,000 for comments towards the officials, and Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse picks up two for tripping and another two for mouthing off to referee Kelly Sutherland. 

We’ve got an offensive goaltender interference challenge that put a goal back on the board for the Vegas Golden Knights' Ivan Barbashev after Mark Stone skimmed the top of the crease and, from the same game, no call for a Jack Eichel cross-check that sent the Oilers’ Mattias Ekholm crashing into the boards.

Also, a bit of a cluster-puck in Philly as the ref’s arm goes up… then down… but not quickly enough to avoid the Flyers pulling their goalie and sending out another skater… only to draw a whistle for too many men on the ice. We - like the refs did - will sort this one out.

We also take a look at The Athletic’s Rules Court, which happens to coincidentally touch on something from Rob Vollman’s Hockey Abstract book on advanced NHL stats from a few years back. (Rob is currently the LA Kings’ Director of Analytics; his book Stat Shot is a great read…)

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Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com

Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast

The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.