We’re being bombarded with talk about the staggering number of too many men penalties in the first round of the 2010 NHL playoffs, and some are starting to question the merit of the rule. We’re closing in on two dozen called – about one in every two games. People are asking if this penalty really impacts the flow of the game or should the refs just put their whistles in their pockets and let the boys play?

Personally, I think the refs – and by extension the NHL, are doing the right thing. Too many men on the ice is a rule in the rulebook, and therefore it should be called. Players coming from the bench have a grace period where they’re allowed to hop over the boards before the guy they’re relieving takes a seat, but the point to which they’ve been stretching that distance has been a little extensive. As a result, a man goes into the box.

The point is that these players should know better. Every bench guy should know who he is replacing and not put his blade on the ice until he knows that other guy is done. It’s easy to say that, but it’s true! We’ve seen games where there were literally six guys going after a puck or a body, and while nobody is arguing those specific calls, there’s also nobody that’s saying something as similar as crossing the blue line before the puck by just a foot or two shouldn’t be called offside.

The playoff atmosphere is much different than the regular season, and we’re seeing the excitement; or more accurately the impatience of the younger players. They’re getting called for a “nothing” penalty that doesn’t affect the game directly, but I’d say having an extra, rested guy on the ice for any amount of time longer than he’s supposed to be is an unfair advantage, and I applaud the referees for calling them on it. To make things easy, the players would be well-served to just wait an extra two seconds. It’s much safer to do that than sit for two minutes in the sin bin.