On this week's #RefsPodcast:

• Milestone for MacPherson: 1000 NHL Games
• Blackhawks' Foligno busted for doggy-paddling off the draw
• Oilers' McDavid with a controversial goaltender interference call.
• Panthers' Verhaege penalized for boarding Sens' Zub -- bt not harshly enough
• Edmonton's Zach Hyman hip-checks the puck into the net... you can't do that.
• Rangers and Bruins go to intermission... and then come back after review
• Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen is the only goaltender to be called for hooking in the past five years -- and he's done it twice... with the same referee working!
• Detroit's Copp got away with clearing some space for his overtime winner vs. Carolina

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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

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

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:

• We’ve seen Will Ferrell at hockey games as Buddy the Elf, but he recently sat ice-level at a Kings game in full ref gear. 
• Those Christmas bills are coming due as the NHL dishes out fines to Tampa Bay Lightning’s Scott Sabourin, Florida Panthers’ Anton Lundell, and New York Islanders’ Mat Barzal - who channeled his inner lumberjack to take a hack at Mason Marchment.
• Florida Panther Brad Marchand avoided a suspension - which would have seen him miss the Winter Classic against the New York Rangers - for elbowing Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson
• Kicking it in Miami as Sam Reinhart’s skate goal gets waved off for a distinct kicking motion
• Seattle Kraken’s Vince Dunn has a goal called back for interference, but surprising not the kind of interference you’re thinking of
• Three retirements north of the the border as Ryan Hutchinson works his final OHL game and longtime officials Chad and Cody Huseby wrap up their WHL careers. 
• And, from the mailbag, an interesting opportunity to pull the goalie on a delayed whistle.

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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

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

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:

• World Juniors officials
• NHL liney Ryan Jackson injured
• Paying Christmas Bills!
• Ducks' Vatrano fined for unsportsmanlike conduct on Stars' Robertson
• Blackhawks' Grzelcyk fined for cross-checking Sens' Stutzle
• Ducks' Johnston fined for a stucker punch on Kraken's Kartye
• No call on Panthers' Rodrigues for taking out Canes' Jarvis ith a dangerous trip that sent him crashing into the goal frame
• Panthers' Marchand hits Canes' Bussi right in the Christmas crackers - then scores on the play
• Rangers' Shesterkin makes a great save on the Caps' Strome... that was juuuust over the line
• At the WJC, Canada's Porter Martone picks up a penalty for a post-goal celebration
• Flames' Weeger gets tossed for a stick-banging tantrum after a penalty call.

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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

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

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.

Hands off! We've got a whole slew of hand pass reviews on this week's #RefsPodcast. The rulebook was changed in 2019 to allow challenges for hand passes leading to a goal, but this is the first time we've had four in just over a week. Also on the show:

• Anaheim Ducks' Jacob Trouba lays the hammer on Washington Capitals' Ryan Leonard. The Caps were mad, but was it legal?
• The Ducks' Leo Carlsson gets a shootout goal wiped out for the dreaded double-tap.
• Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand has the puck go off his glove prior to a goal. We'll break down why this WASN'T a hand pass.
• Buffalo Sabres' Alex Tuch bats the puck while holding his stick. Not one we've seen often, but a good precedent-setter for future ruling on why this WAS a hand pass.
• The easiest one of them all - Chicago Blackhawks' Colton Dach plays the puck with his glove then misses it with his stick, resulting in an easy hand pass call that even New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin caught.
• Tampa Bay Lightning's Gage Goncalves gets ejected for a clear knee-on-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs Dakota Mermis that looked intentional. Should he have also been suspended?
• Toronto's Bobby McCann does get suspended for a stick-swinging incident. Was this the right ruling? Not based on what we've seen in the past.
• The Olympic refs are out... sort of. We check out the leaked list of stripes, but expect some of those names to change. We'll tell you why.

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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

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

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.

It's a busy week on the #RefsPodcast:

• Jets goalie Thomas Milic picks up a penalty for covering up the puck
• Kraken's Mason Marchment fires up the Edmonton Oilers after a hit on Darnell Nurse
• Penguins' Blake Lizotte with the crotch-hoist on the Flyers' Garnet Hathaway. Should the NHL come down harder on the ol' pickle-smasher?
• Blues' Toropchenko takes out the Utah Mammoth's Logan Cooley with a knee, earning a major penalty but avoiding a fine or suspension
• Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin looked like the only one surprised he was given a major penalty for boarding Trevor Zegras of the Philadelphia Flyers.
• Nashville's Steven Stamkos scores the OT game-winner with Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling already in there... and the net off its pegs
• A hand pass haunts the Tampa Lay Lightning as Nikita Kucherov's game-tying goal was disallowed after the NHL's Situation Room reviewed the play for a missed stoppage. Was it the right call?

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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

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

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.

It’s a confluence of circumstances on a jam-packed #RefsPodcast:

• The OHL suspends Brampton's Luke Dragusica for the rest of the season for a Marty-McSorleyesque two-handed slash to the head
• Carolina Hurricanes’ Andrei Svechnikov gets the elbow up on Vancouver Canucks’ Filip Hronek
• We’re not seeing any sort of distinct kicking motion on this disallowed goal from San Jose Sharks’ Will Smith… but there might be a good argument for disallowing it.
• George Parros of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety drops in on Lightning vs. Panthers
• The New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings go old school with the jersey matchup and with a post-game scuffle, along with a controversial holding the stick call on Sam Carrick after a hook from J.T. Compher
• New York Islanders’ Bo Horvat gets four minutes for a high stick after getting tripped up – plus another 10 for arguing the call
• More ugliness from Stars vs. Isles as Mikko Rantanen gets ejected - but not suspended - for a hit that injured defenseman Alex Romanov
• Just moments later, Dallas thinks they’ve tied the game only to have the goal called back for goaltender interference.
• The Buffalo Sabres have their own run-in with goalie interference and the NHL Situation Room when Tage Thompson is ruled to have interfered with the Calgary Flames’ Devin Cooley
• Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard picks up an abuse of officials penalty for arguing a non-call after getting slashed on a breakaway by Seattle Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren
• …and here comes the Washington Capitals’ Tom Wilson!

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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

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

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 the latest #RefsPodcast:

• Nashville Predators forward Michael Bunting tips a shot into the net vs. the New York Rangers that was just a bit high... but presented an opportunity for some technological enhancements
• Boston Bruins blueliner Nikita Zadorov took out Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who left the game shortly after. Did it deserve a penalty? Or something more?
• A scary hit from New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon took out Tyler Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings. Dillon picked up a penalty and a fine, but was that enough for this high elbow?
• Also, we check in with The Athletic's Rules Court to break down some of their latest suggestions on changes to the NHL rulebook -- including one likely controversial take on penalty shots.

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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

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

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 the latest #RefsPodcast:

• Scoring a goal without actually putting the puck into the net. It's possible, and it happened twice this week - once at Anaheim Ducks vs. Detroit Red Wings and again at Minnesota Wild vs. Nashville Predators
• Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider has a goal disallowed for a "distinct kicking motion" that wasn't very distinct
• Wings netminder John Gibson bumps the net off prior to a Chris Kreider goal
• The Washington Capitals challenge a New York Islanders offside play that may have been too close to call -- where's our new puck and player tracking when we need it?
• Another no-net-goal came when the Nashville Predators' Justus Annunen bumped the net, creating a rebound off the outside of the net that continued an "imminent scoring chance" that led to a goal.
• Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeny Malkin picks up the tab on a $5000 slashing fine for stickwork on the Jets' Logan Stanley.
• Anaheim's Leo Carlsson blows up Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues
• The first match penalty of the season goes to Minnesota's Tyler Pitlick for a headshot on Jaden Chatfield of the Carolina Hurricanes
• Neither hit resulted in a fine nor suspension from the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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

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

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.

The Pittsburgh Penguins do, at least this week. Also on the latest #RefsPodcast:

• New official debuts as Shawn Oliver, Jeremy Faucher, and Dylan Blujus hit the ice for the first time in the NHL
• Injury updates with Scott Cherrey, Francois St. Laurent, Steve Kozari, Chris Rooney, Ryan Daisy, and Bryan Pancich still sidelined
• Congratulations to referee Chris Lee on 1500 games!
• Major penalty to Blue Jackets’ Mathieu Olivier for a headshot on the Caps’ Declan Chisholm. Was it the right call?
• Tampa Bay Lightning’s Emil Lilleberg puts the puck into the net off referee Frederick L’Ecuyer. Rule 78.5 says that one doesn’t count.
• Chaos at Penguins vs. Flyers. Who saw that coming? We’ve got disallowed goals, Sidney Crosby and Trevor Zegras rules ineligible for the shootout, and a premature substitution - which is, what, exactly?
• Was it a slew foot? Vegas Golden Knights’ defenseman Jeremy Lauzon sweeps the leg on Carolina Hurricanes winger Nik Ehlers. 
• Chicago’s Colton Dach deflects in an empty-netter on a delayed penalty… which doesn’t count. Rule 78.5 strikes again, but this time it’s section 11.
• Minnesota Wild’s Matt Boldy is wrongfully convicted of a high sticking penalty after the pick catches Winnipeg’s Dylan DeMelo up high. Coach John Hynes loses his mind, Boldly heads to the box… and, later, ref Gord Dwyer apologies. More on the call and why they couldn’t review it.
• Goaltender interference at Kings vs. Wings, as Kevin Fiala finds his way into the blue paint.
• The Situation Room gets some well-deserved upgrades, with some interesting inspiration.

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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

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

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:

• Author Don Weekes joins Todd and Josh to discuss his new book Hockey Hall of Fame Timeline of the Game: 150 Years of Hockey Stories
• Referee Michael Markovic has a 'Steve Harvey' moment after he announces the wrong call - and immediately corrects it - at Panthers vs. Devils
• Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers fined for slashing Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid right in the twig and berries
• Utah Mammoth blueliner Ian Cole picks up a fine for a dangerous trip on the Nashville Predators' Steven Stamkos.
• Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark flashes the leather for a glove save on Evan Rodrigues of the Florida Panthers only to drop the puck right into his own net. We break down the continuous play rule.
• The refs eventually sort out which member of the Toronto Maple Leafs - Auston Matthews or Simon Benoit - was responsible for putting the puck over the glass
• Bum rap as Thomas Chabot picks up a high sticking penalty - that stands after review - when it was Florida's Eetu Luostarinen
• Nashville's Ozzy Wiesblatt gets away with a dangerous play sfter he shoves the Leafs' Easton Cowan into the goal cage.
• Goaltender intereference is back! We check out a lenghty review from Sens/Preds and a controversial call from Philadelphia Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes that saw Freddie Andersen shove Travis Sanheim in the goal crease.
• In the KHL, a video goal judge is fired after getting the goal call wrong.

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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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.