Scouting The Refs Podcast #RefsPodcast

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!

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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.

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 - ⁠[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.

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 - [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.

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.

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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.

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?

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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.

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 - [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.

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 - [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.

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 - [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.

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 - [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.

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 - [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.

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.