The playoffs may not officially be underway, but for any team close to the cutline, they\u2019ve already begun. You feel the intensity and the passion. There\u2019s so much at stake. Part of my job is explaining these decisions. The people in the Situation Room watch more hockey than I do, so if there\u2019s nuance I\u2019m missing, I\u2019d like to know about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thursday evening, minutes before a heavy 13-game schedule, I got on a zoom call with six of them. We walked through the two plays, and they explained to me why one was a goal and one wasn\u2019t. It should also be mentioned that one former official is in the room with Hockey Operations. Last weekend, it was Dan O\u2019Halloran, who refereed in the NHL from 1995-2020.<\/p>\n
My goal here is to explain. What did they see? Why did they rule this way? And, inform everyone so we hopefully have a better understanding of what we are looking for.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Penguins are up 2-0 when Barron scores the disputed goal. Keys: the puck is in front of Barron, and he doesn\u2019t change his path in an obvious attempt to wipe out the goalie. His only interest is getting in position to score, and the contact occurs immediately after he makes contact with the puck.<\/p>\n
Watch from the camera above and behind Arturs Silovs<\/a>. Erik Karlsson<\/a> makes an incredible attempt to disrupt this play, coming a long way to bother Brad Lambert before spinning to get his stick on Barron\u2019s effort. (I didn\u2019t appreciate how hard Karlsson competed here until I saw this angle.) The Situation Room feels Karlsson\u2019s own momentum plays the biggest part in the ensuing contact, since he\u2019s spinning into Barron\u2019s path.\u00a0<\/p>\n When referee Kelly Sutherland says it is a goal \u201cdue to the initial contact by the Pittsburgh defenceman,\u201d he\u2019s referring to Karlsson and Barron, not Karlsson and Silovs. That added to the confusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Penguins hilariously distributed the rule to media in attendance at that game, but Hockey Operations, which admits not all rulings have unanimous internal agreement, said there wasn\u2019t much dispute on this one. (To be honest, I was surprised at how many people said this to me, too. When I saw it live, I thought for sure no goal.) They did not feel Barron pushed, shoved or fouled Karlsson. They felt this was a battle Barron won.<\/p>\n I was playing cards Sunday night when my phone blew up about this one. I was shocked the Blue Jackets challenged, because no way I would have after Barron\u2019s goal. But their video coaches knew something, because the goal was overturned.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Right away, I\u2019m shown one major difference between the two plays: puck location. On Barron\u2019s goal, the puck is between him and the net, either on the ice or in the air. When Lee collides with Jet Greaves<\/a>, it is behind him \u2014 not in the crease. As the Islanders captain goes to the net, Mathieu Olivier<\/a> deflects it away from his stick, and it doesn\u2019t move towards the goal until it hits Olivier\u2019s skate. That\u2019s Lee\u2019s biggest problem. He takes out Greaves with no puck in the crease, and the carnage prevents the goalie from recovering before it goes in off Olivier.\u00a0<\/p>\n The big question here is obvious: doesn\u2019t Olivier push Lee? As we were discussing this play, that\u2019s what I had the toughest time reconciling. I freely admit the ex-players in Hockey Operations have much more on-ice experience than I do, so they see things I don\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lee is no softie, but the Columbus winger is one of the NHL\u2019s toughest, most physical players. On the side-angle view, they point out how Lee smartly manoeuvres around Olivier before the latter recovers to knock the puck away, and doesn\u2019t fall on Lee until after everyone\u2019s in the crease. The majority of the Situation Room staff feels this was more about Lee\u2019s own momentum.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the end of our conversation, I told them they should be putting out these videos themselves. Maybe I don\u2019t agree with everything, but, at the very least, the walk-through opened my eyes to critical factors.\u00a0<\/p>\n Number one: where is the puck? Barron\u2019s goal, it was in front of him. Lee\u2019s was behind him, and he clearly beat the puck into the crease. That matters. And it was the first thing mentioned in both cases. This is something all of us should be watching on any disputed play.<\/p>\n Number two: who creates the contact? This is more judgemental, but it\u2019s a factor. We might not always see it the same way, but we have to look for it.<\/p>\n Of course, while I was writing, the Penguins lost another challenge<\/a>. But in both of these they lost, they won the game. (So did the Islanders.) We plan, God laughs.<\/p>\n 1. Tuesday, led by intrepid Sportsnet Features producer Jeremy McElhanney, we drove to Buffalo. The Sabres are playoff-bound, so we taped a few pieces. The best thing about Buffalo right now is you feel the energy. Reporters covering practice were excited. It\u2019s an awesome fan base, extremely deserving of late-April hockey. Josh Norris<\/a> said that, during the first post-Olympic home game, he and Tage Thompson<\/a> were next to each other on the bench. The crowd was so loud they couldn\u2019t have a conversation. They started laughing, marvelling at the enthusiasm.<\/p>\n 2. One of the most fascinating things about the Sabres\u2019 season is that it went from zero-to-100 at F1 speeds. There was no build, no climb \u2014 just an immediate charge from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to the top. It\u2019s obvious: everyone believes the 4-3 overtime victory in Edmonton on Dec. 9 is Buffalo\u2019s pivotal moment. A collision knocked out Colten Ellis<\/a> in the first period, but in front of Alex Lyon<\/a>, they played 40 great minutes and led 3-0. Then, Edmonton scored 10 seconds into the third and tied it with two seconds remaining in regulation. The Oilers are a nightmare in three-on-three overtime, and the Sabres stared at a fourth-straight loss. But Alex Tuch scored at 0:33 and a 10-game win streak was born. <\/p>\n \u201cThat could have been the game that broke our back,\u201d head coach Lindy Ruff said. \u201cLots of excuses that could\u2019ve led to a loss, but we made it a big win.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 3. Heading into Thursday\u2019s games, Buffalo was tied atop the East with Carolina, also holding the top tiebreaker \u2014 37 regulation wins. (Tampa Bay is second with 35.) Every team has its slogans \u2014 everyone remembers John Tortorella\u2019s \u201cSafe is Death\u201d \u2014 and Ruff was nice enough to share four themes surrounding the Sabres in 2025-26: <\/p>\n \u201cEverybody Ropes, Everybody Rides.\u201d <\/p>\n Self-explanatory. I assumed Ruff, a good Alberta boy, authored this one, but he wouldn\u2019t take credit. \u201cThe players probably didn’t know this and I didn’t tell them, but when I went to Dallas, somebody else brought this in.\u201d (Another Western Canadian, he said.) <\/p>\n \u201cShare the Morning Coffee.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cTalk to your teammates. Get to know them. When you walk in the building, your teammates sit in there. Enjoy something with them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMeans a lot of things in hockey. There might be something going on on the ice. You’re going to have to grab a guy.\u201d Nowhere did the Sabres better illustrate this than during their wild, fight-filled 8-7 win two weeks ago over the Lightning. <\/p>\n Or, \u201cThere might be a guy that’s struggling off the ice or with his play, that means just grab the guy, help him out. That can go a lot of different directions and a lot of these are stuff the players and our group came up with before the season.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cWhen you put the skates on, it’s 100 per cent plus.\u201d Not too many nights Buffalo\u2019s given anything less since that northern Alberta night last December. Chippewa Street in the playoffs is going to nuts. About time.<\/p>\n Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.<\/p>\n Latest episode<\/a><\/p>\n 4. Ruff played for the Rangers; coached the Stars and Devils. But Sabre blood flows through his veins. He\u2019s been so close, particularly in 1999 and 2006 \u2014 the phenomenal series against Carolina where a puck-over-glass penalty overcame their injury-depleted blue line. He loves this group. I asked him if he still thinks about erasing all of that. <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it’s a shot to get done what I haven’t been able to get done,\u201d he answered. \u201cIn my eyes, I’m not going to quit trying.\u201d Does that mean you\u2019re back next year? (His contract expires June 30.) \u201cThe thing we’ve kind of wrapped our arms around as a coaching staff has been, \u2018Let’s just win one more game.\u2019 We keep saying, \u2018Just one more.\u2019 That’s it. And we get to tomorrow, and we’ll say, \u2018Just one more.\u2019\u201d Then, he smiled. \u201cWhen we get to\u00a0that\u00a0\u2018Just one more,\u2019 we’ll see if it’s just one.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. Nashville is shrinking its list of GM contenders. I don\u2019t believe any external candidate has interviewed in-person. Not sure of the timeline, but that\u2019s going to change in the near future. In addition to the already reported names, others who have been spoken to include St. Louis Vice-President of Hockey Operations Peter Chiarelli and an intriguing fresh name, Edmonton\u00a0assistant GM Bill Scott. It\u2019s a wide net and we\u2019re still figuring out who else is involved.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n 6. The Predators\u2019 late-season push is exciting, but hasn\u2019t changed their long-term outlook. As someone joked with me this week, \u201cbirth certificates are still the berth certificates.\u201d They will need to continue developing and injecting youth.\u00a0<\/p>\n 7. One former Nashvillian will be closely watched as the games heat up. That\u2019s Michael McCarron<\/a>. The Predators and player had a sizeable gap during negotiations. A few team executives said that\u2019s because he\u2019ll have a strong market. Nothing ridiculous, manageable for most, but there\u2019s a scarcity and he\u2019s a physical, competitive sizeable centre.\u00a0<\/p>\n 8. I wouldn\u2019t rush to assume anything about Auston Matthews<\/a>\u2019 intentions. There is much to play out before we get a true understanding of how he feels. While there are changes coming in Toronto, we don\u2019t yet know what they will be.<\/p>\n 9. Connor Ingram<\/a> after Edmonton\u2019s thrilling 4-3 Thursday night victory over Vegas: \u201cWe\u2019ve found a way to play that\u2019s given us success. Now it\u2019s not being stubborn and sticking with it. Playing simple. We\u2019re a good enough hockey club we\u2019re going to get our chances. As long as we don\u2019t give them that many, we\u2019re going to be just fine.\u201d <\/p>\n The Oilers\u2019 penalty kill, ranked 26th, had three huge kills, including one in overtime. During Tuesday\u2019s win over Utah, the Oilers had some way-above-average defensive metrics for them (per Sportlogiq), including blocking almost double the amount of even-strength shots as usual and a much stingier defence of their blueline. Baby steps, but big performances.\u00a0<\/p>\n 10. Alexander Ovechkin took his first defensive-zone five-on-five faceoff of the season Thursday in Utah \u2014 a night he scored a hat trick in a 7-4 win. Part of me thinks it would have been tremendous to go 82 games without one. I\u2019ve also wondered if he does play next year, does he also get something unheard-of for the NHL: a lengthy multi-city sendoff.<\/p>\n 11. For much of this season, the Jets felt this year was a blip \u2014 not a true indication of who they are, especially due to Connor Hellebuyck<\/a>\u2019s early-season injury. But there has to be disappointment post-Olympics they got within striking distance of a playoff position and haven\u2019t made a better push.<\/p>\n 12. In the debate about playoff format, someone made a thoughtful point: that Commissioner Gary Bettman wants things this way because it protects time zones. There\u2019s reason to believe this. Bettman has said he will never go away from every team having All-Star Game representation because you give a market incentive not to watch. Not everyone makes the playoffs, but this way you get the best shot at multiple teams from every region. Every division has its down cycle. Before the Pillow Pacific, remember the SouthLeast?\u00a0I do wish there was a way to give Central teams (and fans) better start times.\u00a0<\/p>\n 13. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said this week the NBA will have a special Board of Governors meeting this May to enact tougher anti-tanking rules. Leagues watch each other, so I\u2019m curious to see what Silver comes up with. <\/p>\n The NHL adjusted its draft a few years ago, with teams blocked from rising more than 10 spots and falling more than two \u2014 but that was because the worst teams felt they were consistently getting clobbered in the lottery (Detroit). Silver made it very clear this is a problem that needs to be solved at the ownership level. The first team out of the playoffs in the East is nine-and-a-half back. In the West it is 10.5. That\u2019s a drama-free few weeks, everybody\u2019s nightmare. Fortunately, hockey doesn\u2019t have the same issue this season, thanks to some awesome races. But the NHL will watch what the NBA does, just in case.\u00a0<\/p>\n 14. A few Canucks said Filip Hronek<\/a> is quietly trying to exert more influence in a positive way. As the Canucks chart a new path, Hronek\u2019s discussed everything from practice habits to how workouts are done to punctuality to attire in an attempt to sharpen things. Lots of talk he\u2019ll be the new captain. Whether or not that\u2019s true, he\u2019s definitely acting as one.\u00a0<\/p>\n 15. Vegas is notoriously private about injuries but there is expectation Carter Hart<\/a> will return before the end of the regular season.\u00a0<\/p>\n 16. It\u2019s now or never for the Kings. One point out, seven in a row at home, two of them against Nashville. Have to overcome a terrible tiebreaker, though.\u00a0<\/p>\n 17. We\u2019ll see how things progress with James Hagens, but I don\u2019t believe returning to Boston College is a realistic outcome. What\u2019s interesting is that several advisors and executives wanted him to try if he doesn’t sign this spring with the Bruins, just to see how the NCAA handles it. While there is educated guesswork Hagens wouldn\u2019t be eligible now that he\u2019s appeared in the AHL, the fact a couple of players have returned to college after playing professional hockey has others wondering if he could be stopped. In this case, however, the question appears moot.<\/p>\n Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne talk all things hockey with some of the biggest names in the game. Watch live every weekday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ \u2014 or listen live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN \u2014 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n Full episode<\/a><\/p>\n 18. Someone asked me if the Bruins don\u2019t want to burn the first year of his contract so a new one is needed in three years instead of two. Only Boston can answer that, but one thing I\u2019ve learned is some clubs aren\u2019t scared of this because it can actually hurt a player\u2019s comparables due to lower counting stats. I mean, if Hagens does what he can do, it\u2019s not going to matter. But some agents and teams will tell you burning a year with no huge numbers can help a club\u2019s negotiation\/arbitration case.<\/p>\n 19. As part of the being-worked-on NHL\/CHL\/AHL eligibility rules, there will be a date prior to the CHL trade deadline (second week of January) for 19-year-olds to rejoin their junior clubs rather than stay. Past that date, they can\u2019t go back. <\/p>\n 20. Originally, the plan was for one 19-year-old per NHL team to be loaned, but that\u2019s been amended to any first-round selection. Teams with multiple picks argued they shouldn\u2019t have to create problems with players, families and\/or agents by choosing between eligible players. As I\u2019ve written, I don\u2019t think this means we will see a flood of players headed there. NHLPA must still approve.\u00a0<\/p>\n 21. Loved Travis Green saying \u201cget ready to win\u201d when asked what he was going to do against Detroit with a depleted defence. It\u2019s all about attitude, although I admit it didn\u2019t hurt that Linus Ullmark<\/a> played one of his best games of the season. Also excellent that Carter Yakemchuk<\/a> scored two points in an emergency NHL debut. He\u2019s only 20, long way to go, but the pressure builds for impact when you\u2019re a first-rounder. For both player and for a scouting staff under new management.\u00a0<\/p>\n 22. The only north-of-the-49th team not to host an outdoor game is Montreal. The issue is not \u201cwant,\u201d but \u201cwhere?\u201d The Canadiens are trying to solve that. TVA\u2019s Renaud Lavoie reported Wednesday the plan is to build a temporary stadium where summer music festivals are held at Parc Jean-Drapeau, near the Canadian Grand Prix site. I\u2019ve heard 42,000 seats (Renaud said 40-45K) with a target of the 2028-29 season. A women\u2019s game would be part of the festivities. Would be awesome, and we need an outdoor game in that city. <\/p>\n 23. Don\u2019t overcomplicate things: make Toronto the opponent.<\/p>\n 24. Speaking of Montreal, a few executives who saw Alexander Zharovsky recently said the Canadiens got away with grand larceny picking him 34th in last year\u2019s draft. Apparently, that selection in that spot is a discussion point in scouting circles.\u00a0<\/p>\n 25. A couple post-Olympic thoughts still in my notebook. After the Bronze Medal Game, I asked several Finns and Slovaks who they thought would win gold. Mikael Granlund answered, \u201cI have my thoughts, but I\u2019m not going to say them yet.\u201d I haven\u2019t forgotten Mikael, and some day I\u2019m going to get it out of you.\u00a0<\/p>\n Experience electric without compromise. The 2026 Toyota bZ brings you an estimated 468 km range and adaptable charging, engineered for your journey.<\/p>\n Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n 26. American-born Shane Pinto<\/a> said the more Canada couldn\u2019t score, the more he began to believe \u201cwe were actually going to win.\u201d I heard this from a few different people.<\/p>\n 27. Vincent Trocheck<\/a> said when he checked his phone after the win, there was a text from one of his best friends with the on-ice video of Trocheck saying, \u201cI am going to get (bleeped) up tonight.\u201d He was laughing about that this week, saying the other text that stood out was a congratulatory message from Patrick Kane<\/a>. They became pretty close during the future Hall-of-Famer\u2019s Ranger tenure.<\/p>\n 28. Don Granato will be coaching Team USA at the World Championships. His Buffalo contract is expiring. Enjoyed working with him at Sportsnet and no doubt this will be a good opportunity to remind everyone of his availability.\u00a0<\/p>\n 29. Kevin Maxwell, AHL Springfield\u2019s GM, may be leaving the Blues as they enter the Alex Steen era. Prior to that, he worked for the Rangers for 15 years. Possible reunion?<\/p>\n 30. To make the whole goalie interference situation even more muddled, when it briefly came up at the GM meetings, one manager complained about the netminders embellishing, too.<\/p>\n 31. Not my expertise, but I\u2019ve been reading this week about PWHL salary disclosure in The Hockey News. It\u2019s a controversial topic, because this information is supposed to be private and not all players and\/or reporters are thrilled about it. (No doubt the league isn\u2019t happy.) I\u2019d just say this: full salary disclosure was great for the NHL players. A friend is taking his kids to the Takeover Tour game this weekend in Detroit (New York Sirens vs Montreal Victoire) and they are pumped.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"32](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/32THOUGHTS_500X500_ICON_V2-500x360.jpg\"){kind=icon}
32 Thoughts: The Podcast<\/p>\n![\"Real](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SNPodcast_RealKyperBourne_1280x720-640x360.jpg\")
Real Kyper and Bourne<\/p>\n![\"Power](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Toyota-Red-Tag-Snippet-640x360.png\")
Power up during Red Tag Days<\/p>\n