Scouting The Refs Podcast #RefsPodcast

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 Ducks' Leo Carlsson gets a shootout goal wiped out for the dreaded double-tap.
• Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand has the puck go off his glove prior to a goal. We'll break down why this WASN'T a hand pass.
• Buffalo Sabres' Alex Tuch bats the puck while holding his stick. Not one we've seen often, but a good precedent-setter for future ruling on why this WAS a hand pass.
• The easiest one of them all - Chicago Blackhawks' Colton Dach plays the puck with his glove then misses it with his stick, resulting in an easy hand pass call that even New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin caught.
• Tampa Bay Lightning's Gage Goncalves gets ejected for a clear knee-on-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs Dakota Mermis that looked intentional. Should he have also been suspended?
• Toronto's Bobby McCann does get suspended for a stick-swinging incident. Was this the right ruling? Not based on what we've seen in the past.
• The Olympic refs are out... sort of. We check out the leaked list of stripes, but expect some of those names to change. We'll tell you why.

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On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

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It's a busy week on the #RefsPodcast:

• Jets goalie Thomas Milic picks up a penalty for covering up the puck
• Kraken's Mason Marchment fires up the Edmonton Oilers after a hit on Darnell Nurse
• Penguins' Blake Lizotte with the crotch-hoist on the Flyers' Garnet Hathaway. Should the NHL come down harder on the ol' pickle-smasher?
• Blues' Toropchenko takes out the Utah Mammoth's Logan Cooley with a knee, earning a major penalty but avoiding a fine or suspension
• Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin looked like the only one surprised he was given a major penalty for boarding Trevor Zegras of the Philadelphia Flyers.
• Nashville's Steven Stamkos scores the OT game-winner with Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling already in there... and the net off its pegs
• A hand pass haunts the Tampa Lay Lightning as Nikita Kucherov's game-tying goal was disallowed after the NHL's Situation Room reviewed the play for a missed stoppage. Was it the right call?

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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It’s a confluence of circumstances on a jam-packed #RefsPodcast:

On the latest #RefsPodcast:

• Nashville Predators forward Michael Bunting tips a shot into the net vs. the New York Rangers that was just a bit high... but presented an opportunity for some technological enhancements
• Boston Bruins blueliner Nikita Zadorov took out Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who left the game shortly after. Did it deserve a penalty? Or something more?
• A scary hit from New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon took out Tyler Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings. Dillon picked up a penalty and a fine, but was that enough for this high elbow?
• Also, we check in with The Athletic's Rules Court to break down some of their latest suggestions on changes to the NHL rulebook -- including one likely controversial take on penalty shots.

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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On the latest #RefsPodcast:

• Scoring a goal without actually putting the puck into the net. It's possible, and it happened twice this week - once at Anaheim Ducks vs. Detroit Red Wings and again at Minnesota Wild vs. Nashville Predators
• Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider has a goal disallowed for a "distinct kicking motion" that wasn't very distinct
• Wings netminder John Gibson bumps the net off prior to a Chris Kreider goal
• The Washington Capitals challenge a New York Islanders offside play that may have been too close to call -- where's our new puck and player tracking when we need it?
• Another no-net-goal came when the Nashville Predators' Justus Annunen bumped the net, creating a rebound off the outside of the net that continued an "imminent scoring chance" that led to a goal.
• Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeny Malkin picks up the tab on a $5000 slashing fine for stickwork on the Jets' Logan Stanley.
• Anaheim's Leo Carlsson blows up Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues
• The first match penalty of the season goes to Minnesota's Tyler Pitlick for a headshot on Jaden Chatfield of the Carolina Hurricanes
• Neither hit resulted in a fine nor suspension from the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera.

On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk.

You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in.

Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest. 

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