No More Swallowing the Whistle: Penalties Affecting Playoffs

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Gone are the days that you have to mug somebody to get a penalty late in regulation of a playoff game or in overtime. Referees swallowing their whistles because they don't want to influence the game are a thing of the past. But part of the reason for that is some of the penalties can't be ignored. Delay of game for puck over the glass? Automatic penalty. High stick drawing blood? That's four minutes in the box. The 2020 NHL playoffs have featured plenty of those penalties. And some of them have been game-and series changing in the fight for the Stanley Cup.