This does not apply if a series reaches seven games, or at any point in time beginning in the third round.
In the final round of cuts, the list is reduced to ten officials: Five referees and five linesmen.
They are no longer in pairs; they will rotate so that all officials are involved in the series.
In 2021, the NHL broke teams up into new divisions: Three in the United States, and one in Canada.
The referees and linesmen were semi-restricted from crossing the border throughout the regular season, only being allowed to move between the two countries either when they were re-assigned to work games, or when the semifinals began (and including the final).
As part of the NHLOA's recent collective bargaining agreement, 2020 was the first year they would name five referees and five linesmen to the Cup Final.
Before the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL assigned five referees and four linesmen to the series:[1] Something they hadn't done since 2001.
Beginning with the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL assigned two referees and two linesmen for each game.
A total of eight on-ice officials are named: Four referees and four linesmen.
Between the 1999 and 2001 playoff seasons, the National Hockey League implemented a two referee, two linesman system.