Penalties should be called consistently across regular and post season.

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

The NHL needs to define a crosscheck, a hold, an interference, etc., and hold refs accountable if they aren’t living up to the set standards. That’s largely what the NFL does, works for them. Their reffing ain’t perfect, but it’s worlds better than the gong show that is the NHL.

Playoffs have more effort, hits, and playing through injury. Crosschecks to the back are bullshit, they shouldn’t be a part of this. Clear trips are still clear trips. Don’t like it, don’t like seeing special teams during playoffs? Too bad, they’re part of the game, just hope that your team stops doing dumb shit.

Seriously, I do get the desire and argument for relaxing the reffing, but the problem with that is you then have a sliding standard where no one knows what’s allowed and what isn’t. I think you see it most obviously with crosschecks this postseason, and it just leads to a weird split where regular season and playoffs require two totally different builds and attitudes. Players and coaches have to know what the standards are gonna be either way, and I think it’s a lot easier and more logical to just have 1 set of rules. Missed calls will still happen, but it’s like you can see the refs calculating “that’s a penalty.. but not a playoff penalty, maybe. Shit, idk.”

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

No let them play and wack eachother in the playoffs may the strongest man win

 

[PB37]

Maybe in a vacuum I agree. But the NHL playoffs are so intense and filled with emotion, the last thing you want to see the refs do is call a ticky tac penalty in the middle of a tie game with the series and potentially careers on the line. I prefer they look the other way and just call the obvious stuff when the games matter the most.

 

[Vikingstad]

Maybe in a vacuum I agree. But the NHL playoffs are so intense and filled with emotion, the last thing you want to see the refs do is call a ticky tac penalty in the middle of a tie game with the series and potentially careers on the line. I prefer they look the other way and just call the obvious stuff when the games matter the most.

The question is do you trust the refs to make the right calls? There's always cases of inconsistency even in the most blatant penalties. The easiest way to avoid these inconsistencies is to just call everything objectively.

 

[mphmiles]

Maybe in a vacuum I agree. But the NHL playoffs are so intense and filled with emotion, the last thing you want to see the refs do is call a ticky tac penalty in the middle of a tie game with the series and potentially careers on the line. I prefer they look the other way and just call the obvious stuff when the games matter the most.

They don't even do that.

 

[Based Anime Fan]

I'd also like to see the whole 'playoff games are worth x regular season games' f*** right off as well. If it's 5 games in the regular season, it should be 5 in the post season as well. FAFO.

 

[nturn06]

Maybe in a vacuum I agree. But the NHL playoffs are so intense and filled with emotion, the last thing you want to see the refs do is call a ticky tac penalty in the middle of a tie game with the series and potentially careers on the line. I prefer they look the other way and just call the obvious stuff when the games matter the most.

Unfortunatelly that is the issue nowadays.

The refs ignore all crap and then they do call a random penalty which decides the match.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Nah, pass.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

They don't even do that.

Yes they do. 95% of the obvious things and stuff that actually affects the play gets called. No the ticky tac hooks and roughs that doesnt affect the play wont get called.

 

[BB79]

Nah, let them slaughter each other

 

[JPeeper]

No let them play and wack eachother in the playoffs may the strongest man win

This, I love that the later we get into the playoffs the refs put the whistle away more. For the long ass regular season call the penalties, playoffs nah son, it's a battle of attrition.

 

[WatchfulElm]

This is a really needed debate.

In a way, I don't mind if players, managers and a bunch of fans want a different set of rules during playoffs. Personally, I believe interference, tripping, holding and cross checks to the face are degrading the quality of the game, and should be penalized as it is during regular season. But if the majority likes it, I'll get behind it.

But please can we write this damn rule book so we finally know what is a penalty, and what isn't ? Otherwise, it's 100% arbitrary. It's "game management" at its worse. Refs decides when to call penalties based on game situations, not on rules.

It's totally amateurish and unprofessional. The NHL is losing a lot of credibility over this. It’s a source of frustration for many fans and i'm sure, for many players. Other pro sports don't change the rules or apply them randomly during important games. If the NHL wants to be unique in having a different set of rules, then fine. But write the $%@#& damn rules and enforce them, so we understand what is happening and have the feeling the game isn't rigged.

It's pretty basic. But it seems the dinosaurs managing this league still don't get it.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

This is a really needed debate.

In a way, I don't mind if players, managers and a bunch of fans want a different set of rules during playoffs. Personally, I believe interference, tripping, holding and cross checks to the face are degrading the quality of the game, and should be penalized as it is during regular season. But if the majority likes it, I'll get behind it.

But please can we write this damn rule book so we finally know what is a penalty, and what isn't ? Otherwise, it's 100% arbitrary. It's "game management" at its worse. Refs decides when to call penalties based on game situations, not on rules.

It's totally amateurish and unprofessional. The NHL is losing a lot of credibility over this. It’s a source of frustration for many fans and i'm sure, for many players. Other pro sports don't change the rules or apply them randomly during important games. If the NHL wants to be unique in having a different set of rules, then fine. But write the $%@#& damn rules and enforce them, so we understand what is happening and have the feeling the game isn't rigged.

It's pretty basic. But it seems the dinosaurs managing this league still don't get it.

Agreed. I'm no universe should the score affect whether a penalty is called. Furthermore, a team that takes the first 3 penalties in a game shouldn't be able to get away with murder from that point on.

 

[Chaos]

Agreed. I'm no universe should the score affect whether a penalty is called. Furthermore, a team that takes the first 3 penalties in a game shouldn't be able to get away with murder from that point on.

This. You see it all the time. Especially if a team had gotten called for what they perceive as 2 or 3 “soft” penalties in a row. They know they can get away with pretty much anything after that. And the refs will be looking for any little thing to call on the other team.

If it’s a penalty in the 1st period of the 1st game of the regular season, it should be a penalty in OT of game 7 of the finals.

 

[I am Canadian]

I agree with you in principle but the league has figured out that all the extra drama only drives viewership

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Maybe in a vacuum I agree. But the NHL playoffs are so intense and filled with emotion, the last thing you want to see the refs do is call a ticky tac penalty in the middle of a tie game with the series and potentially careers on the line. I prefer they look the other way and just call the obvious stuff when the games matter the most.

The problem is this punishes teams who have built around having a successful powerplay, or just simply have a good one. Meanwhile, it rewards teams who are mediocre on the powerplay.

It also farther insistences players to be dickheads since, so long as they don't cross into injury territory like Hagel did, they can get away with doing whatever they want. Why try to battle with McDavid when you can just crosscheck the living hell out of him?

Penalties should be called consistently. If you trip Matthews, you should risk putting Toronto on the powerplay not getting a freebie because "playoff intensity and emotions!"

 

[landy]

Robots in the sky should call penalties so there are no mistakes. Then have pucks come up from the faceoff dots. Boom removes 4 bodies from the ice.

 

[PB37]

The problem is this punishes teams who have built around having a successful powerplay, or just simply have a good one. Meanwhile, it rewards teams who are mediocre on the powerplay.

It also farther insistences players to be dickheads since, so long as they don't cross into injury territory like Hagel did, they can get away with doing whatever they want. Why try to battle with McDavid when you can just crosscheck the living hell out of him?

Penalties should be called consistently. If you trip Matthews, you should risk putting Toronto on the powerplay not getting a freebie because "playoff intensity and emotions!"

Playoffs have always been a war of attrition physically.

As much as we like to pretend it's not, not all trips are the same. I think unless the refs have a clear sight of it and are 100 percent sure in the moment, I see them let stuff go more often than not. It is what it is.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Agreed. Two different rulesets is stupid.

It's not even consistent in the playoffs period to period.

Call the rulebook. Either players adjust or the rules do, but call the damn rulebook.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

When players play the same way in the playoffs as they do in the regular season they can start officiating the same way.

 

[qcal1427]

Stop. Please just stop. People don't actually want consistency, they want calls to go their team's way. No fan in the history of sports has ever thought refereeing was good. I'm so sick of the complaining and pearl-clutching about it. Just enjoy the game man

 

[Hammman]

The bullshit excuse of not wanting to influence the outcome of a game is so annoying. Not calling penalties is just as impactful as calling them.

 

[kingsholygrail]

I think hooking should actually be hooking again.

 

[hockeyFan029]

I agree with you in principle but the league has figured out that all the extra drama only drives viewership

There's a huge difference between competitive drama and reckless chaos. Letting star players get injured doesn’t build hype, it kills it. Nobody tunes in to watch the best players get taken out of the game. Imagine tuning into a Lakers playoff run and LeBron’s out because someone cheap-shotted him with no consequences — fans would be furious, not entertained. The NHL loses casual fans every time a good player gets hurt or disappears because the league refuses to protect them. That’s not drama — that’s bad storytelling.

 

[Hennessy]

Stop. Please just stop. People don't actually want consistency, they want calls to go their team's way. No fan in the history of sports has ever thought refereeing was good. I'm so sick of the complaining and pearl-clutching about it. Just enjoy the game man

I mean, sure. None of us like this complaining about the refs stuff. Regardless of how earnest it may be on a case to case basis.
But the overall point is solid. As #Chaos stated above, something I've often said near-verbatim myself, "If it’s a penalty in the 1st period of the 1st game of the regular season, it should be a penalty in OT of game 7 of the finals."