Jeremy Hronek
Registered User
In the NFL, if the teams runner loses the ball, even if it is almost certain that the players knee was down or the qb's arm was moving forward, the refs will let the play go. The refs can always review the play afterward and make the correct decision, however If the refs were to blow the play dead early, they can no longer overturn the decision.
It seems to me that the refs in the NHL are choosing not to make calls when it is a close offside and even a borderline obvious offside call. The play can always be reversed on a goal afterward if it was indeed offside, but if they blow the whistle on a close call, they remove that opportunity. I don't know if they keep stats on the number of offsides in the NHL, but I would bet that if they did, it would be some of the lowest ever.
It seems to me that the refs in the NHL are choosing not to make calls when it is a close offside and even a borderline obvious offside call. The play can always be reversed on a goal afterward if it was indeed offside, but if they blow the whistle on a close call, they remove that opportunity. I don't know if they keep stats on the number of offsides in the NHL, but I would bet that if they did, it would be some of the lowest ever.