RALEIGH, N.C. — Every year, the NHL sends the same message: This is the season when players will be allowed to play. Stars can be stars, the game will be fast and fluid and goonism won't be tolerated.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom celebrates his team's second goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period Thursday night. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The clutching, grabbing, holding and mauling that neutralize even the most exceptional of players and drag down the quality of play league-wide? They're out. Skill is in.

        Only this year, the NHL is delivering its statement at the end of the season, not the beginning. The result is a dramatic effect on the way the Stanley Cup finals between Detroit and Carolina are being played.

        As the series shifts from Detroit to Raleigh for Game 3 Saturday night, it seems evident — barring a mid-series change of philosophy by NHL higher-ups — that these will be the most closely called finals in years.

        “It's kind of new,” Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman said. “I think they get criticized, whatever they do. There's always been the criticism that they're not going to call this or call that.

        “But there's more focus on it now. Everybody is watching ... and there's less chance to get away with things. And you have your best officials now.”

        They're busy, too. There were 33 penalties called in the first two games of the tied series, a pace that would yield 115 over seven games — or 25 more than last year's seven-game Colorado-New Jersey finals.

        In Detroit's 3-1 victory in Game 2 on Thursday, each time had eight power plays, an unusually high number for a regular-season game, much less the finals. In Carolina's 3-2 overtime decision in Game 1, Detroit had seven power plays and Carolina had six.

        Neither team is exactly taking advantage of all this man-advantage time — Detroit is 2-for-15, Carolina is 1-for-14 on power play — but the increased penalty time is making special teams play even more important than before.

        Interestingly, players and coaches alike have mixed opinions about the tighter officiating, which Bowman believes is a reflection of NHL director of officiating Andy Van Hellemond's style when he was an NHL referee.

        “I have kind of old-school views on that,” Carolina forward Jeff O'Neill said Friday. “I think the guys should settle the game. I mean, on a marginal slashing penalty in the neutral zone, you can see a guy's head go back and embellish the call.

        “I remember when I was child, and it had to be almost an ambulance-type situation for a penalty called. And it's surprising the penalties that are being called.”

        And, he might have added, when they are being called — early, late and in-between. Detroit's Kris Draper was called for boarding less than 1 1/2 minutes into Game 2, and there were six power plays in the third period, when referees traditionally call only the most serious of infractions.

        With nearly one-third of the games devoted to special teams, both teams are having trouble developing any offensive flow; the winning team in each game has scored three goals.

        “Both teams have to adjust to it and go out and play,” Detroit defenseman Fredrik Olausson said. “If you're not on the power play or not killing penalties, it's tough to get going. It stretches some players on our side and it stretches some players on their side a little bit. It's tough sometimes, but that's the way the games are refereed.”

        Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who plays the power play, in penalty-killing situations and his regular even-strength shifts, is the most stretched of all, with nearly 68 minutes of ice time — or 34 minutes per game.

        The tighter officiating is equally helping and hurting the underdog Hurricanes, who are clogging the neutral zone to slow the Red Wings' skilled forwards and force turnovers. But Carolina isn't getting much going at even strength, and that's a disadvantage because it is not as dangerous on special teams as Detroit.

        “I understand why it's being called tighter,” Carolina coach Paul Maurice said, referring to complaints about perceived dirty play earlier in the playoffs. “But both teams are probably looking at the penalties called against them and aren't real excited.”

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