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NHL drop three officials ahead of Stanley Cup Playoffs
Photo credit: ESPN
The NHL playoffs are officially underway, and the list of referees who will be calling games has been announced. That said, three prominent names have been left off the list, sparking heated debate among fans.
It's every hockey fan's favourite time of the year - the Stanley Cup playoffs.
From epic comebacks, upsets, and rivalries - the Stanley Cup playoffs provide unmatched memories we all live for.
However, some of the most unforgettable playoff moments - unfortunately - come from the referees.
Whether it's missed calls or controversial penalties, the standard of officiating has noticeably declined in recent seasons.
It appears the NHL is looking to shake things up this year and restore confidence in the officiating - particularly in the playoffs.
3 prominent referees left out of the playoffs
According to Maple Leafs Daily, this is the list of referees who will be officiating in the playoffs:
Jake Brenk, Francis Charron, Gord Dwyer, Eric Furlatt, Trevor Hanson, Jean Hebert, Frederick L'Ecuyer, Pierre Lambert, T.J. Luxmore, Peter MacDougall, Wes McCauley, Jon McIsaac, Kendrick Nicholson, Dan O'Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Garrett Rank, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Graham Skilliter, Francois St. Laurent, Furman South, and Kelly Sutherland.
As per Maple Leafs Daily, If you're noticing a few notable absences, that's because Steve Kozari, Chris Lee and Tom Chmielewski have been outright excluded -- Kozari due to injury. Meanwhile, Chris Schlenker, Corey Syvret have been named as Standby Refs, in case of an injury.
The three officials that have been barred from the playoffs have a classic "let em' play" mentality, often leading to missed calls, physical altercations, and controversial goals.
Now, with Lee, Kuzari, Chmielewski out of the picture - fans can expect fair officiating on all fronts.
Do you think this was a good idea by the league? Answer our Capitals Insider Poll to have your say!
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 20 | 40 ANSWERS NHL drop three officials ahead of Stanley Cup Playoffs Do you think excluding these referee's was good idea? | ||
| Yes | 34 | 85 % |
| No | 6 | 15 % |
| List of polls | ||