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DETROIT -- The case of the National Hockey League versus Tomas Holmstrom appears to be getting personal.
At issue is Holmstrom's constant presence in front of the opposition net, and the league and the officials' response to it.
"I don't think he has to adjust," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said of his winger. "I think the league has to adjust."
For the second time in recent playoff games, an NHL official disallowed a Detroit goal when Holmstrom was considered to be either in the crease or interfering with the goaltender. In each case, the video replay version of the events made the calls appear dubious to say the least -- the implication from the Wings being that the league is targeting Holmstrom.
"I think it was a reputation call," Holland said of the goal disallowed in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final. "If we were to show a video on how to play the front of the net, I'd show last night's clip. Because I think if 698 players do what happened (Saturday), I think it would be a goal.
"There's been so much talk about him that everybody reacts the minute he gets near the crease. They're running such a fine line and everybody's talking about him that he's had calls go against him."
For his part, Holmstrom isn't about to change his game. He will be back in his office tonight in front of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, challenging the Pittsburgh Penguins and the NHL to deal with his annoying presence.
And that's exactly what Holland and coach Mike Babcock want him to do.
"We've talked to him. Mike talked to him after the game last night. He has to keep going, keep going there. He's the best at it in the league," Holland said. "Mike and I talked -- we're supporting him. Those were good goals, those were great plays. He has to keep doing what he's doing. If we're going to scold him, he's not going to be effective.
"Hopefully, in the end, the league is going to get most of it right.
"He (Holmstrom) only knows one way. That's who he is. That's what he is. That's what he does."
When asked why other players don't play the front-of-the-net game Holmstrom manages so effectively, Holland said: "There's more to it than just standing there. He's the best in the world at this. He has a knack for everything going on around him to somehow be focused on the puck. He has an incredible sense to be right on the line. There's the odd time he goes over the line. Most times he's in the perfect position."
The league, apparently, views it differently. The positional dispute continues.