from Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal,

The game needs to be cleaned up, and maybe it’s as simple as enforcing the rules as they’re written to stop the slashing, the running of goalies in their crease and infringing the circle on faceoffs.

There’s no question there has been more stick work as players struggle to keep the opposition closely guarded. The constant slashing was a problem all season. It’s actually pretty simple — use a two-hander on a player across his hands or break his stick in half with a slash and it’s off to the penalty box.

In some cases, it should be a double-minor, a major or even a match penalty and ejection for attempt to injure. Think Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau, who was slashed repeatedly by Minnesota and broke his finger in November, or Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby on Ottawa’s Marc Methot in March.

Same for running goalies. The rules state no contact with the goaltender when he’s in his crease. That’s why the crease exists. But how many times have we seen goalies knocked down, or, in the case of Carolina’s Eddie Lack, knocked out after a collision?

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says goaltender interference is a judgment call. NHL referees are supposed to be the best in the world. Why then can’t they exert proper judgment and determine an infraction was committed?

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