Having the rulebook changed for penalties that arent a potential player safety issue (hooking, tripping, etc) due to the time/score is what causes players, and fans, to get frustrated and start taking cheap shots.
If its a hook at the start of the game, it should be a hook at the end of the game. It doesnt matter if its 2 minutes in the first, or 2 minutes into OT. It doesnt matter if its 2-2, or 4-0. The ref should be constant throughout for calls like that.
Have you ever officiated a game? Part of the reason they will let the borderline hook go in OT is because they do not want a borderline call to decide a game.
Same thing in the blow-out. Both teams know a game is over so it could be the time to do something stupid and not hurt their team. So, first sign you see you squash it before it gets out of control. In a 2-2 game with 3 minutes late, the questionable hit is a lot LESS likely to be a case of a player taking liberties or getting revenge.
I officiate 2 different sports at various levels and I will definitely officiate a blow-out much differently than a close game. And yes, I will tell coaches, captains, even players that something was a situational call. Here's one I remember. Mens baseball, top division. Both teams had players who played college and/or minor league ball. Visiting team was up 17-2 in the top of the 6th. (Mercy rule was 12 runs after 6, 10 after 7). Anyways, pitcher gets first 2 guys out, then 3rd batter hits a double. First pitch, he steals 3rd. As the catcher is throwing to 3rd, the batter says to himself, "What the hell is he doing? If I get hit by a pitch, I am going to smack him." Runner was clearly safe, throw was high and wide. Sure enough, next pitch hits the batter. Not a real beanball, batter didn't get hurt. I ejected the pitcher immediately and as the batter ran to first he looked at his own teammate and told him he was an *******. Pitcher walked off field quietly, game went on. Inning ended, I told the catcher of the team that was hit to tell the pitcher I dont want anything stupid. They went 3 up, 3 down, game over. I told both captains/coaches quietly that I was not going to report the ejection, I just didn't want the game to turn into a **** show. Both coaches understood, both agreed ejecting him immediately was the right thing to do. If it was a 3-2 game and the batter stole 3rd and then the batter got hit with the next pitch, do you think I would have ejected him? Before this it was a nice quiet easy game. The teams were just playing, no trash-talk or problems at all. Just the losing team had a real bad day. No showboating or anything else by the winning team. Just one idiot not understanding baseball etiquette. BTW, my partner did say if the play at 3rd was anywhere close, he would have called him out. Throw was high and wide third basemen had to leap to prevent ball from going to outfield.