Dangerous hits to head becoming epidemic in Stanley cup playoffs

The refereeing in this postseason is constantly being called into question, as the inconsistencies have been brutal. The referees are able to have such an impact on play, whether it's calling a questionable penalty or not calling an obvious one.

The only thing consistent about the refs has been how often they let players get away with dirty hits this postseason. There has been a scary amount of injuries as a result of an illegal hit, including one from last night's game where the referees let Lomberg get away with a brutal check.

Hits like this are seeming to happen all the time, as the NHL struggles to keep up with punishing head contact. Not only is this clear head contact, but it's a clear headbutt too which is blatantly illegal.

This isn't even close to the only incident this postseason, or even this series. The refs have been way too easy on the head contact penalties, and the Department of Player Safety needs to start cracking down on players to suspend them. Hits to the head are the most dangerous in hockey, in both the short and especially the long term. There have been many examples of unpunished high hits, such as this one from Jamie Benn in round 2.

The referees are quickly losing control of these games and players know it. If these penalties were being called every time they were committed, there wouldn't be nearly as many dirty hits being thrown. The DoPS needs to start making examples out of players who are risking other players' health with these terrible hits.