from Eric Francis of Sportsnet,
Stephen Walkom insists his officials will continue establishing a standard of enforcement that won’t waiver during the regular season or Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Yes, the playoffs.
“So far the reaction has been pretty good with coaches and players – it’s in the skilled players’ best interest,” said the NHL’s director of officiating, who adds that none of the league’s 31 general managers have lodged complaints either.
“By playoff time the players will have changed the way they set up for a faceoff. With the slashing we’re going to treat it just like hooking out of the 2005-06 season and we don’t want to change our standard in the playoffs.”
Players and fans have every right to be skeptical games next spring will be called as tightly as this year’s pre-season penalty-fests.
However, what shouldn’t be questioned is whether the players will learn to conform sooner rather than later. Just as they did after the lockout when hooking and holding needed to be eliminated.
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