We’re down to just four teams, which means the officiating roster has also been reduced down to 16 officials.
Here are the eight NHL Referees and eight NHL Linespersons chosen to work the Conference Finals of the National Hockey League 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Referees
Francis Charron, Eric Furlatt, Jean Hebert, Wes McCauley, Dan O’Rourke, Garrett Rank, Chris Rooney, and Kelly Sutherland
First-Timers: None.
Out from Round 2: Gord Dwyer, TJ Luxmore, Graham Skilliter, Francois St. Laurent
Standby Referee: Graham Skilliter
Linespersons
Devin Berg, Scott Cherrey, Ryan Daisy, Ryan Gibbons, Trent Knorr, Matt MacPherson, Bevan Mills, and Jonny Murray
First-Timers: None.
Out from Round 2: Shandor Alphonso (injury), Jesse Marquis, Kiel Murchison, James Tobias
Standby Linesperson: James Tobias
Are You Experienced?
All of the referees and linespersons advancing have previously worked the Conference Finals. Among refs, only Garrett Rank has yet to officiate a Stanley Cup Final. On the lines, Ryan Gibbons, Trent Knorr, and Bevan Mills are both hoping to move on to make their Cup Final debuts.
Splitting Pairs
Only two second-round pairings saw both refs advance:
- Eric Furlatt & Kelly Sutherland (EDM/VGK G1, DAL/WPG G2, FLA/TOR G5)
- Garrett Rank & Jean Hebert (DAL/WPG G1, VGK/EDM G3, WSH/CAR G4, TOR/FLA G6)
No pairings had both refs fail to advance.
Injury Updates
Linesperson Shandor Alphonso suffered a playoff-ending injury that will keep him sidelined.
Referee Chris Rooney was injured at Game 7 of Leafs/Panthers, but has advanced and is expected to be back in the officiating rotation for the Conference Finals.
Career Numbers
Kelly Sutherland leads all active referees in playoff games worked (249), ahead of Wes McCauley (213), Dan O’Rourke (213), Eric Furlatt (188), and Chris Rooney (178). Sutherland also leads all refs in Stanley Cup Final appearances (10) and Cup Final games worked (27).
Sutherland is fourth all-time in playoff games officiated, behind Bill McCreary (297), Don Koharski (266), and Kerry Fraser (254).
On the lines, the active leader for playoff games is now Jonny Murray (201), who moves ahead of Brad Kovachik (200). He’s followed by Scott Cherrey (165), Steve Barton (157), and Matt MacPherson (122). Murray is poised to catch linespersons Jay Sharrers (204) and possibly Brad Lazarowich (205) in career playoff appearances.
Playoff Paychecks
Officials get paid per round in the postseason, with referees earning $30,000 and linespersons $19,000 for the 2025 playoffs. Standby referees earn $1000 for being on call, with an increase to $2,750 if they get into the game; linespersons on standby pick up a $650 check which bumps to $1,775 if they take the ice.
As in previous seasons, the league cuts down on the pool of officials after each round of the playoffs.
Congratulations to the NHL officials selected to work the conference finals of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Here’s who worked Round 2:
NHL Officials Advancing to Round 2 of 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs
