Refs and linesmen have both been over the top these playoffs. Way too many calls, way too much involvement. Let them play.
Yeah that's just not true at all. There is absolutely nothing unusual about the number of calls we have seen so far.
As always, the officials think the show is all about themselves. They're supposed to just let the players play but they constantly interfere with the game arbitrarily, mainly to make themselves feel important.
Um, what?
It's the exact opposite. There is nothing worse than the rubbish claim to "let the players play". Because what that actually means is "let the players cheat". You are punishing those who actually try to play hockey, while giving an advantage to those who cheat or who are too lazy to try the correct play.
The ref's job isn't to let the players play, their job is to make the players adhere to the rules and to punish them if they don't. The more they fail to set a proper standard, the more cheating you will see, as players adapt to the style of refereeing. If the refs are strict, players adapt and are more careful. If they are extremely strict, the game may become timid, but if, on the other hand, the refs fail to do their job, the players will take advantage in every way, at the price of quality of play and the players ability to actually play hockey.
Refs calling less penalties has nothing whatsoever to do with letting the players decide the game. On the contrary, by not calling infractions, refs have a far bigger impact on the game.