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The call that the official are (were) cracking down on is the Obstuction call. Basically you can't interfere with a player who doesn't have the puck, that is called as either a) interference (if the infraction occurs in the defensive or offensive zone) of B)obstruction (if the infraction takes place in the neutral zone it is then followed the type of penalty, ie: Obstruction-Holding or Obstruction-Hooking) here is the official rulebook definition of obstruction:
Obstruction: shall be defined as any tactic by a player who attempts to or who restrains an opponent who is not in possession of the puck, or who physically prevents an opponent from moving freely in the direction he wishes to go. The term "obstruction" shall be used coupled with the appropriate foul (holding, hooking, interference, tripping) when the obstruction offence occurs in the neutral zone.
As for bettman he is a tool, more concerned about the business side of the sport than the actaul sport itself. Up here there is a huge feeling that bettman wants nothing to do with the smaller markets, like Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton. Since they compose half of the Canadian Teams, he gets a bad rap.
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