Season 7, Episode 31
April 3, 2026
On this week’s #RefsPodcast:
- Linesman Brad Kovachik’s final NHL game
- Stars’ Bichsel steals Karlsson’s stick
- Sabres’ Thompson penalized after his stick is deflected by Detroit’s Edvinsson’s follow-through
- Leafs’ Domi goes after Ducks’ Gudas
- Toronto’s Pezzetta called for abuse of officials
- Panthers’ Paul Maurice says “STFU”
- Goalie fight! Markstrom vs. Shesterkin
- Panthers’ Gregor takes out Sens’ Yakemchuk
- Ottawa’s Tkachuk takes a slashing penalty from the bench
- Flyers’ Marton has rookie run-in with ref
- Jets’ Pionk goes low
- Chris Pronger weighs in on Player Safety
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The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We’ll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was – or wasn’t – handed out.
Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.
Josh Smith is the managing editor of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls.
