Scouting The Refs Podcast #RefsPodcast

That's a rap on the 2025-26 NHL season, as the Carolina Hurricanes claimed the Stanley Cup in Game 6 over the Vegas Golden Knights. Wrapping up: Referee Golfin' Garrett Rank takes a tumble Canes' Jason Blake gets called for tripping. A marginal tripping call? In the Stanley Cup Final? Tomas Hertl pushes the puck to win a draw. "You can't do that," says Rule 67 (and liney...

The NHL Stanley Cup Final is in full swing! This week: No call on Golden Knights' Eichel for dumping Canes' Staal Vegas's Stone sticks Chatfield up high, prompting an official discussion and a video review. How did that work, exactly? Game 3 has two challenges against Vegas - one for offside against Howden, one for goaltender interference on Barbashev A Cup Final Penalty Shot courtesy...

We've made it through the NHL Conference Finals and Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final with plenty to discuss on this week’s Refs Podcast: The NHL's Final Four refs and linespersons Ghislain Hebert gets a new gig up north The ref cam is back! Referee Chris Rooney kicks off the Cup Final with some words of encouragement Icing, icing, baby... or is it? Breaking down a controversial icing...

We’ve got a jam-packed week of Stanley Cup action to run down on this week’s Refs Podcast: Canadiens’ Dobson delivers a high-stick from his knees A clear spear from Montreal’s Texier on Canes’ Miller gets called a slash. What? Carolina’s Hall hits Hutson Dorofeyev’s Golden Knights goal gets disallowed for being batted in with a glove… or was it deflected by a high stick above the crossbar? Or both...

On this week's playoff-penalty-filled episode: Six for McAvoy's lumberjack attack Habs' Xhekaj pays up for punch Avalanche's Manson puts his butt-end where it doesn't belong, gets a fine and a penalty -- but should've gotten more Sabres' Malenstyn steamrolls Habs' Dobes A double-goal-review at Canadiens vs. Sabres that goes from no goal, to goal, and back to no goal...

On this week's playoff-penalty-filled episode: Senators' Grieg gets two Montreal's Matheson misses the puck Habs’ Demidov may not be to blame for his goaltender interference penalty Bruins’ McAvoy is ready for baseball season… and a suspension Flyers’ Foerster lowers the hatchet Carolina’s Martinook’s self-inflicted high stick Why the officials made the right non-call on an icing play...

This week: Third jersey rules... and superstitions Sens' Greig goes for the sucker-punch Pens' Rust hair-pulling Flyers' Martone Over the line... or not? Plenty of controversy at Oilers vs. Ducks on a goal-line play with the puck partially obscured by a skate Vegas scores twice in OT after their first game-winner came back for an offside Bruins' Zadorov get fined for a cross-check...

This week: A goal line stop - or was it - at Canes vs. Senators Game 1 Habs’ Anderson takes out Bolts’ D’Astous and sees his penalty reduced from a major to a minor… and then has his goal wiped out on a stick that was too damn high Tampa’s Hagel hits Montreal’s Guhle, resulting in a high stick on Brayden Point. That doesn’t seem fair…  Goaltender interference at Kings vs. Avalanche Mammoth’s Durzi...

This week: 23,596 penalty minutes... how do you measure a year? Liney Steve Barton hangs 'em up NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Officiating - how do they pick the officials and how does it work in the postseason? A high-sticking penalty review turns into a non-call. It's the right interpretation under the rule book... so is the rule just WRONG? Stick fouls abound at Sabres vs. Stars as Radek Faska...

This week: Ben Betker's NHL Refereeing Debut McAvoy's flying stick gets two minutes High sticking fines for Luostarinen and Strome Flyers' Michkov fined for diving Learning what is - and is not - goaltender interference at Bruins vs. Canes, after a goal is allowed after contact in the crease and Bussi drops to sell an elbow Mammoth's Weegar gets bailed out by the Utah video coach C...

This week: Linesman Brad Kovachik's final NHL game Stars' Bichsel steals Karlsson's stick Sabres' Thompson penalized after his stick is deflected by Detroit's Edvinsson's follow-through Leafs' Domi goes after Ducks' Gudas Toronto's Pezzetta called for abuse of officials Panthers' Paul Maurice says "STFU" Goalie fight! Markstrom vs. Shesterkin Panth...

On this week's show: Caught in the crossfire as liney Kilian McNamara catches a high stick during a scrum Panthers' AJ Grees suspended three games for boarding Flames Connor Zary Goaltender interference?! You don't say! Breaking down NHL Situation Room decisions at Penguins vs. Jets, Jackets vs. Islanders, Wild vs. Lightning, and Avalanche vs. Penguins. Looking for consistency here......

Pens' Evgeni Malkin gets five games for slashing Islanders' Bo Horvat fined $2500 for poking a Shark No call, not fine after Isles' Mat Barzal picks Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks It's a wild one at Sabres vs. Lightning with plenty of goals and penalty minutes Tampa's Brandon Hagel gets four minutes for a one-sided attack on Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin; he deserved qu...

This week, Todd and Josh tackle: Olympic recap of the Gold Medal Game between USA and Canada Another Too Many Men... or was it? Bennett sticks 'em up Wilson blows up Larkin NHL officials earn their stripes at Milan Cortino Upgraded cameras for the NHL Maple Leafs go 2-0 on Coach's Challenges What else can we automate? --------------- Visit  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com...

Plenty of Olympic hockey on tap this week: Too many Czechs on the ice - but what can we do about it? Why can’t you challenge a too many men penalty And, yes, the officials can count to six, as Canada found out in their next game Keep an eye - and a skate - on those faceoffs USA’s Britta Curl’s major penalty vs. Canada reduced to two minutes Penalty shot at Switzerland vs. Sweden Goaltender interfe...

On this week's Olympic edition of the #RefsPodcast, we cover the rule differences between the NHL and Olympics, including goaltender interference, illegal checks to the head, penalty shots, situation room vs. on-ice official reviews, fighting, and more. Team Canada's Tom Wilson makes his presence felt in Milano Cortina after an injury to Kevin Fiala of Switzerland, then drops the gloves in...

Retired NHL referee Ian Walsh shares his journey from officiating in the NHL to mentoring young officials in various leagues. He talks with Todd and Josh about the importance of feedback and coaching for up-and-coming referees, the role of replay technology in officiating, and his memorable experiences at the Sochi Olympics. Ian also compares the officiating styles and rules between the NHL and II...

On a jam-packed edition of the #RefsPodcast: Preds' McCarron fined for slashing OHL's Levac gets six games for slewfoot Isles' Duclair's goaltender interference on Preds' Saros No call on Caps' Wilson for steamrolling Canes' Stankoven Another goalie fight! Swayman vs. Vasilevskiy OT penalty cancels out game-winner for Bruins' Pastrnak Sens' Giroux takes out Pens...

On this week's #RefsPodcast: Penguins' Rust gets three games Leafs' Nylander's $5000 finger Caps' Duhaime whips his stick out on the bench Rangers whistled for three penalties on the same play Isles' DeAngelo takes two for abuse of officials... though they may have broken protocol on the call Capitals bank one of the photographers' hole and in Avs' Manson has a majo...

On this week's #RefsPodcast: Checking in on injured liney Steve Barton Preds' Stamkos fined for bench shenanigans Caps' Klapka also gets involved from the bench, picking up a penalty but nothing from Player Safety Intent to blow at Oilers vs. Blues Goalie fight! Phantom tripping penalty called on Canadiens' Hutson ANOTHER Sabres goalie penalty! No call for Blue Jackets' Olivier...

NAHL Officiating Manager Kendall Hanley joins the show to talk about the North American Hockey League (NAHL)'s upcoming Officiating Exposure Camps - applications are open now! She also looks back on her career including a recent IIHF tournament and working the women's tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics, and shares some opportunities for those considering picking up a whistle through th...

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...

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...

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...

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 Duck...