No Change in Officiating for Playoffs, Executive Says

Brian P. Burke, NHL senior vice president and director of hockey operations who visited a Pittsburgh Penguin practice Tuesday, said fans shouldn’t expect an few penalties to be called during the playoffs.

“We’ve never given our officials instructions to call less in the playoffs,” Burke said.

Burke said because the NHL uses only top-rated officials there might be few penalties. “But there’s no different standard in the playoffs,” he said.

Burke, responding a request from Penguin players for tighter officiating, said, “I don’t think the NHL can tailor an officiating standard for one team or one player.”