The NHL has always been like that, though. The emphasis that the playoffs is more important so they skew all the calls and suspensions is ridiculous

Really it kinda makes sense though. If teams played all 82 games like they do in the playoffs, no one would be healthy for the post season.

More whistles during regular season keeps everyone in check for the most part so that the league has stars to showcase when the games ramp up come playoff time.

I would argue that it's basically playing the same game but with two completely different set of rules. It doesn't make sense that you can't get away with certain things but, all of sudden, because it's playoffs, you're off the hook.

I wouldn't contest that argument.. it is pretty much exactly that but that's ok with me. Playoff hockey is the best to watch because the whistles are put away.

I'm fine with the refs loosening up on calls in the playoffs.

I'm not fine with the increasingly egregious game management where the losing team gets all the calls their way.

I think the term every referee should strive for is consistency.

Great refs have it and the bad ones don't have it. It's as simple as that.

I guess my point is that the inconsistency you speak of is what makes NHL playoffs what it is.. I'm not saying I agree that there are two seemingly separate sets of rules between regular season and playoffs, all I'm saying that that in it's own way, it kind of makes sense and draws an audience which = US exposure and more importantly, revenue.

If refs put the whistles away for all 82 games, hardly anyone would make it.

If they refereed in the playoffs like they do in game 1 of the regular season, it would kill a lot of the excitement that playoff hockey brings.

In the famous words of Todd Bertuzzi, it is what it is.

I've played hockey for the large majority of my life as I'm sure other regulars here have. It's just a given that playoff hockey is more hardnosed and you can get away with a little more out there. That inconsistency is what makes NHL playoffs what they are. Exciting hockey. If they want that type of excitement in the regular season, they'll need to reduce the amount of games teams play.. which will most likely never happen.

When they go to 32 teams, the schedule will likely go back to 84 games.

4 games each vs division opponents (28)
3 games each vs conference opponents (24)
2 games each vs non-conference opponents (32)

RIP Chicago's cup defence.

I hope the Preds best the ducks in 7

Pieterangelo is playing like a beast now. :thumbsup:

Blues win! Bye bye Blackhawks! The defending champs are gone. :troll:

Hawks and Kings eliminated

Successful season imo

Pietrangelo...... what a beast. Clutch blocked shots down the stretch. GG!!!!

The Blues had Lady Luck on their side tonight. That puck hit both posts and stayed out of the net.

Bring on the Dallas Stars.

chicago should've picked up hamhuis instead of ladd considering they were constantly overplaying seabrook and keith

^they didn't really have to go with another forward in Ladd Chi fucked up on that one...in playoffs I would go with a strong back end instead of a forward...

wtf? Tampa/NYI round 2 starts the same day Nashville/Anaheim plays their game 7?

Scheduling just seems wrong.

that actually happens fairly often

Um, when was the last time this happened?

Agreed - I've never seen one round start before the conclusion of the previous round.

Never remember that happening before

bruhhh, your stuff is kicking in 6 days too late
:troll:

I dunno if it's that other mandela thread that's tripping me out but i could've sworn this happened before too, just can't remember when. I remember a commentator bringing up how odd it was too. Or maybe I'm smoking the same shit you were.

Apparently its the first time since 1983 that it has happened.

seems pretty often to me ... its happened once before in my lifetime ...