I don't know if the officials know how to ref the games anymore. The following paragraphs are going to fire salvos at Chris Rooney and Kevin Pollock but they could be directed at any of the officials in the league.

It's as if we are witnessing officiating that is a combination of pre-lockout and post-lockout that is just leaving the players confused.

The style is trending toward 2003 when the game was grinding to a halt. The first forward  (F1) can't get in to forecheck anymore because he's getting held up by the defenceman not going for the puck. Players without the puck are running interference everywhere. A player chips the puck up the boards and would be off to the races alone but the defenceman runs into him on the way by. In all of these examples, the defender is not playing the puck, is not interested in going to get the puck, is not playing post-lockout hockey.

Here are some examples of officiating against the Leafs that is leaving me shaking my head. Metropolit in the second period is being held at his shoulders by a beaten Tlusty, and when I say held I mean two hands on him. A short time later you will never find better post-infraction evidence than Mike Cammalleri having Colton Orr's stick wrapped up in his chin strap until 3 seconds later, Cammalleri had to pull it out. After Gill's goal, when Cammalleri is celebrating he gets cross checked, so his players protect him and take two minors. The Leafs score on their ensuing powerplay.

Third period with 14 minutes left, Metropolit beside the Leaf net tries to skate by Exelby to get the puck and gets leveled by Exelby, who made no attempt to get the puck, but was just interested in blocking out Metropolit.

It is appropriate that all of this was on Halloween night because the officiating is at times scary.

The NHL has changed from 2003 in the distinct lack of fighting. No one wants to get an instigator penalty so Komisarek can line up Metropolit and level him and not worry about getting in a fight even though Chipchura and then Moen were chasing the former Hab around the ice.

The standards have to be reset. The rule book is fine. Just enforce it.

When a defending player without the puck is not interested in the puck and is not trying to pursue the puck but instead runs interference by holding the attacker that is trying to pursue the puck, then that is a penalty.

Hockey is the fastest, most beautiful game in sports. Let the players skate!

The average number of goals continues to go down from year to year since the glory year just after the lockout. I know you're thinking 'what are you talking about? There were eight goals in the game!' but it doesn't detract from the examples I have laid out. In fact, it adds to them because if you can find this many examples in an eight-goal game, then how many could you find in all of the 2-1 games?

And by the way, don't get me started about all the head shots. Booth last week, D'Agostini Friday, then Doan Saturday. It's a guy a night going down concussed these days with these pads that are weapons. But that's another blog for another day.