The quality of hockey in these playoffs has been off the charts, but the game's separate set of rules for the last third of the regular season and the post-season has everyone holding the referees to an impossible standard.

I'm not excusing the blatantly bad calls, or the missed calls we've seen, but I think it's time the officiating department did a better job isolating itself from those outside of its ranks that aim to control the way the game is played.

The game has rules, and they shouldn't be subject to change just because the emotions and intensity levels have risen several notches.

Also, I believe the game is so fast that the league should at least consider allowing the linesmen to have the authority to make more calls.

And use video review to its full capacity.

I don't think you can review things like high-sticking or tripping, or regular obstruction infractions, but you can certainly use video review for goals scored while the goalie's being incidentally or purposefully interfered with. The refs are going upstairs on these plays half the time, anyways. Goaltender interference should be reviewable at this stage.

Anything in the aim of getting the call right should be permissible at this stage. And maybe they should do the same with headshots.

Once a player gets called for a headshot-- two, or five minute penalty should be subject to review. If it requires more than five, it should be assessed at that point. If it requires less than five, than reduce it to two minutes.

Get it right. Isn't that all that matters at this point?

Also, it seems so obvious when it comes to goals that the officials hide behind the "sufficient conclusive evidence" factor. Since Kerry Fraser retired, none of these guys seem willing to reverse a call on the ice that they made. They know how much of a beating they're taking in the press, from the fans, but mostly from the people that should do more to defend them for how difficult their job has become.

It's universal in sport that the officials seem to be on their own island when it comes to criticism, but the NHL should do more to support their officials. Their reputation is at stake, just the same.

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I didn't think Vancouver would make it past Los Angeles, but five games was unpredictable.

I have no idea what happened to the Canucks in this series, but we definitely have to credit the Kings for shutting them down, and Jonathan Quick for being spectacular throughout.

No question, the Kings were built for playoff hockey. And the move to add Jeff Carter was Dean Lombardi's best in years, not to say he was so influential in the final outcome. But the team is just that much more complete.

I can't wait to watch the Kings and Blues do battle. It may be low-scoring, but it's going to be a nasty series.

Back on Vancouver, I remember the conversations I had with some close friends at the end of last year's finals. Those conversations had a lot to do with my pre-season analysis on the airways, ahead of this season.

How on earth could Roberto Luongo stay in Vancouver? That was the question I was asking.

Catch-22 situation.

Had he demanded a trade he'd have been labelled a coward. It would've justified all the unjust criticism he faced.

But if he remained, the fans would be down his throat at every failure to stop the puck. They'd be at him for every loss, while Schneider would rise to hero status for every win. And by the time the playoffs would roll around, as soon as he'd lose a game they'd be slamming the coach for playing him, and he'd lose his spot. And this in itself would create enough controversy in Vancouver to keep them from winning the Cup they so desperately coveted.

And none of it was fair to Luongo. Did he have some terrible starts to his seasons in Vancouver? Absolutely.

Did he always bounce back? Absolutely.

Did he take all the blame for them losing the Stanley Cup? Absolutely.

Did his team only score EIGHT goals in the finals? Absolutely.

The players of the NHL are tough. They can take just about anything. But the booed starting goalie in your own building crosses the line of what these guys can take.

Why did Mike Gillis allow this to persist?

Why did the Canucks bring him back when they could've added some toughness and skill in a trade for him, especially given that they had so much confidence in Schneider?

And now that it's sure to happen, one year later, one has to ask if they've blown their opportunity with what's been one of the NHL's best teams over the last three years.

Watching Luongo's redemption in Tampa Bay (where I thought he'd be traded last summer) will be a great storyline next season.

As for the Toronto Maple Leafs, I can think of another goalie they likely have their sights set on.

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Had an interesting discourse on Twitter Friday, when I began to chime up on the notion of the Canadiens being blamed for not developing their prospects appropriately.

I don't really buy into it, even if it's constantly spewed about by the fans of the franchise.

I think people really underestimate that making it as an early 20-something in Montreal is very different from doing the same in Anaheim, New Jersey or Minnesota.

And the most common retort I received was "Why haven't the Canadiens done more to shelter their youth? Why haven't they had their young talents live with veterans who understand how to avoid the temptations of being a star in Montreal?"

While I can appreciate that this concept has become almost universal in sport, not just in hockey, I have to wonder why people assume this falls under the organization's mandate.

Did the Edmonton Oilers ask Ethan Moreau to be a father figure to all the young pups in Edmonton? Or did he open his doors and take it upon himself to help these guys?

Mario Lemieux took it upon himself to have Sidney Crosby live with him--which has obviously helped Crosby tremendously, but it probably helped him more that it was Mario Lemieux and not Bill Guerin. Crosby was about as grounded as any 18-year old star has ever been, and I don't think that had much to do with being babysat. Lemieux endeavored to bring Crosby along because he had a first-hand experience in dealing with the kind of pressure Crosby was under to be the best.

Did the Penguins force Sergei Gonchar to bring Malkin into his home?

The organization's mandate is to win. There's no question there are things they can do to facilitate that process, especially when it comes to the comfort and maturation of their young assets.

At what point does finding a young player some boundaries fall on their parents?

At what point does the agent go the extra mile to ensure their young star is comfortable and sheltered from the dangers of being too rich, too famous and too free in their respective cities?

When an organization promotes a young talent to their roster, they do so with the expectation that player can handle it. They do as much as they can through orientation, seminars, and having good veterans around to shelter and support those young players. And though they know they're throwing most of these kids into a fire they can't handle, they have the expectation that the horse they chose will thrive and win the race; that experience is only gained by living and learning.

That's the real world. The professional world. If you get a job, you're expected to perform to the expected standard. If your personal life is out of control, you're still expected to perform to that standard. And if your personal life is clearly damaging your performance, it's up to the boss to tell you that your performance is inadequate. It's up to those in your personal life to help you if they're willing. But mostly, it's up to you to persevere, grow up, and figure it out; to learn from mistakes and apply the lessons. Otherwise, you blow it, and you get fired (or traded, or not signed).

Have the Canadiens failed to adequately develop some of their prospects over the years? No question about it, and no more than any other organization in sports. Montreal's not for everyone, same way Nashville's not for everyone.

Have they developed some great players that have thrived in other markets because of their experience in Montreal? Of course they have!
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Reviewing my playoff picks:

Nashville is through to the next round.

St. Louis is through.

Los Angeles is through.

Phoenix must beat Chicago for me to be right.

The Penguins have lost-- perhaps the biggest shocker I've seen in hockey in the last five years.

The Rangers would have to come back against Ottawa for me to be right.

I think Boston will win Game 7, but wouldn't it be something if Washington prevailed?

I like the Panthers to close out the Devils.

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