[united]

My issue with puck-over-glass is it is the only penalty called with any degree of consistency. Regardless of whether it is the first period of the first game of the season, or the eighth period of a playoffs game, it's called consistently.

The standard of every other penalty diminishes significantly by period in the regular season, further into the playoffs, and even further into overtime in the playoffs. What is considered a hook in the first period of the first game of the season is wildly different than what is considered a hook in the eight period of a playoffs game. In that sense, puck-over-glass is more punitive as the game goes on, particularly in playoffs overtime situations.

Last night, aside from the puck-over-glass penalty, the teams combined for one penalty in 4.5 periods of overtime hockey, with the Lightning not committing a single penalty-worthy offense throughout overtime (allegedly).

Ideally a penalty is a penalty regardless of period or game, but it's the NHL so the referees' job is more managing the game rather than enforcing the rule book. Why not manage puck-over-glass, too, while we're at it?