Scouting The Refs Podcast

Scouting The Refs Podcast

Scouting The Refs follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news updates, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. #RefsPodcastThe Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out. Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

May 11, 2024 21 mins

On this week’s #RefsPodcast, we’ve got big hits, mega misconducts, and… who’s that ref?


Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn goes unpenalized for a hit on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews - even after a ref review, Carolina Hurricanes’ Tony DeAngelo gets two for a hit on Will Cuylle of the New York Rangers, more goaltender collisions at Canes/Rangers, and some poor goaltender geometry for the Edmonton Oilers’ Stuart Skinner ...

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It's all about the blue paint as Nashville Predators’ Michael McCarron gets fined for goaltender interference after running over Casey DeSmith of the Vancouver Canucks, and two Tampa Bay Lightning goals get wiped out due to goaltender interference. Los Angeles Kings goaltender David Rittich is in the blue when he catches the puck… but his glove goes over the line.


Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand gets taken out by linesman Andrew ...

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May 11, 2024 23 mins

Trevor Moore of the Los Angeles Kings gets only two minutes for a low hit on the Edmonton Oilers' Vincent Desharnais, and the New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin sees a major penalty call rescinded after his hit on Washington Capitals' forward T.J. Oshie.


Also on the latest #RefsPodcast, we've got two too-many-men penalties -- one at Rangers vs. Caps for six men, and one at Panthers vs. Lightning where Tampa was caught with seven s...

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April 19, 2024 27 mins

We hereby conduct this week's Scouting the Refs Podcast...

The playoff officials working the next fortnight's games are out! Referee Mike Sullivan is... ready for it as he makes his NHL debut; Kevin Shattenkirk is guilty as sin for stickwork from the bench; refs would've, should've, could've called a penalty for Habs' Slafkovsky's stick flip, Flyers fans need to calm down when referee Kelly Sutherland thought 'don't blame me' after ...

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April 12, 2024 21 mins

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby calls out a linesman, referee Steve Kozari is injured in a collision with Tampa Bay Lightning’s Haydn Fleury, two new NHL referees make their league debuts as Graedy Hamilton and Stephen Hiff take the ice, with two more waiting for their starts. 

We’ve got a goal line stand at Boston Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes, where a shot from the Canes’ Martin Necas just baaaaaarely crossed the goal l...

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April 5, 2024 24 mins

We've got a communication breakdown in Montreal as a Canadiens goal against the Florida Panthers is confirmed - then overturned due to a miscommunication between the Situation Room and the on-ice officials. (At least they got the call right!)

Player Safety had a busy week, with Minnesota Wild's Hartman suspended for throwing a stick at a referee, Montreal Canadiens' Guhle suspended for slashing from the bench, Anaheim Ducks' Strome ...

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March 29, 2024 26 mins

Detroit Red Wings broadcaster Ken Daniels joins Todd and Josh to discuss a revolutionary change to the offside rule that would increase scoring, reduce Coach's Challenges, and expand the size of the offensive zone.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety issues a six-game suspension to Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson for an egregious high stick - which he reportedly won't appeal - and a $5000 fine to Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen By...

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March 22, 2024 23 mins

Move, ref! Get out the way! Get out the way! Unintentional zebra hunting this week, as linesmen Tommy Hughes, Steve Barton, and Dan Kelly all find themselves on the receiving end of some unintentional contact; referee Chris Schlenker gets a primary assist; Mark Shewchyk steps up as the EBUL (Emergency Backup Linesman); and an unfortunate collision may be career-ending for referee Kevin Pollock.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety ...

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Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella gets ejected by referee Wes McCauley, then refuses to leave, resulting in a two-game suspension along with a $50,000 fine. New York Rangers' Matt Rempe gets a major, a game, and a four-game suspension for elbowing New Jersey Devils' Jonas Siegenthaler, while Ottawa Senators' Parker Kelly sits for two. Referee Gord Dwyer derails a potential goalie fight between the the Anaheim Ducks' Jo...

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March 9, 2024 20 mins

On this week's Scouting the Refs Podcast: Longtime NHL referee Tom Kowal heads to the BC Hockey Hall of Fame, the NHL's Department of Player Safety issues fines to Minnesota Wild's Mats Zuccarello and Nashville Predators' Michael McCarron, and a suspension to Calgary Flames defenseman Martin Pospisil. No call, no fine after Colorado Avalanche's Josh Manson slashes Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard -- or to New York Rangers' Matt Re...

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March 2, 2024 19 mins

We’ve got coach conflicts as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Sheldon Keefe gets kicked out and Buffalo Sabres bench boss Don Granato puts his team down two men. A power outage at Lightning/Flyers, Hill keeps one skate blade in the crease, review rules a legal check for Trocheck, the PWHL brings back the ref cam – and hands out a major penalty and ejection. Plus, we’ve got a hot @#$%ing mic in Philly!


Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follo...

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February 24, 2024 21 mins

New York Rangers' Matt Rempe gets ejected for an illegal check to the head of New Jersey Devils' Nathan Bastian, but don't expect a suspension. From the same game, defenseman Jacob Trouba delivers a legal hit, and Bastian gets away with instigating a fight in return. Islanders head coach Patrick Roy fails in his first Coach's Challenge in New York on a possible missed hand pass, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson hits Zach...

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February 17, 2024 21 mins


So, Ridly Grieg did a thing. Then Morgan Rielly did a thing. And then Player Safety did a thing. Now Rielly has appealed that thing.

DOPS hands out $10k in fines to the Boston Bruins, with Matt Grzelcyk getting a major penalty and a fine for spearing the Caps' Max Pacioretty and goaltender Linus Ullmark picking up a fine for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mikey Eyssimont. Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov ge...

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February 10, 2024 21 mins

Breaking down the three-game suspension to Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brendan Dillon for his it on Pittsburgh Penguins' Noel Acciari. Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment picks up a fine for an unpenalized hit on the Toronto Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe, while Calgary Flames defenseman Martin Pospisil gets ejected for a crosscheck to the face of Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand that drew no further supplemental discipline. Should the N...

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February 3, 2024 26 mins

This week on the #RefsPodcast: A crazy situation from Canucks vs. Blue Jackets, where it looked like the officials changed the call - and the penalized player - via video review... which they're not exactly allowed to do. Todd and Josh also break down the No Goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs after goaltender interference from William Nylander cancelled out a Tyler Bertuzzi goal. 

NHL Player Safety has a busy week with a 5-game suspen...

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January 27, 2024 23 mins

This week on the #RefsPodcast, a Pittsburgh player is wrongly incarcerated after the Penguins score an own goal while shorthanded -- Todd and Josh break down what exactly happened on this play. Also coming up this week: Player Safety springs into action with suspensions to Seattle Kraken's Yanni Gourde and Florida Panthers forward William Lockwood, along with a fine for Arizona Coyotes' Liam O'Brien on a play that failed to meet th...

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January 20, 2024 20 mins

This week on the Scouting the Refs Podcast: Two goals at Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Calgary Flames that required a second look -- one for a missed hand pass and another for a kick to a stick and in. Todd and Josh break down both plays, along with a goal from Edmonton Oilers' Zach Hyman called back for an offside, some mid-air stickwork by Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield, officials' All-Star Game jerseys, and the impressive success o...

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January 13, 2024 21 mins

On this week's #RefsPodcast: Two too many men on the ice penalties at the same time - something the NHL hasn't seen in over a decade. How does that happen? Plus, the PWHL's first all-female officiating crew, linesman Steve Barton gets bloodied but stays in the game, no goal for the Flyers... but that's okay, it wouldn't have counted anyway. Also, Todd and Josh discuss the NHL's increase in match penalties this season, Connor McDavi...

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January 5, 2024 26 mins

On this week's #RefsPodcast: Arizona Coyotes' Jason Zucker suspended for boarding Florida Panthers' Nick Cousins, but nothing for the Cousins hit on Valimaki; Minnesota Wild's Ryan Hartman fined for avenging an injury to Kirill Kaprizov with a high stick to Winnipeg Jets' Cole Perfetti, New York Rangers' kickin' old school on a Chris Krieder skate goal, Seattle Kraken's Tomas Tatar plays the puck from the bench, the PWHL's inaugura...

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December 21, 2023 31 mins

It’s a pre-holiday extravaganza on the Scouting the Refs Podcast. Linesmen Chad and Cody Huseby join us to talk about their unexpected NHL debuts one year ago this week. Plus, New Jersey Devils’ Akira Schmid crosses the line, Boston Bruins’ David Pastrnak picks up five, refs get run over, the Detroit Red Wings watch the penalty clock, the Montreal Canadiens avoid losing a goal to a hand pass, and what the Frk was he doing with his ...

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