Gary Bettman.

BY MARK SPECTOR
sportsnet.ca

CHICAGO — The salary cap may rise, a deal in Phoenix is still in the works, and the officiating isn’t as bad as some fans believe it to be. Those were three points Gary Bettman made in Chicago, where the National Hockey League’s commissioner met with the media prior to Game 2 of the Vancouver-Chicago series on Monday.

As usual, the officials are a hot-button item, with Bettman being asked if the game is being called differently in these playoffs when compared to the regular season.

"It’s not the case. They haven’t been given a different set of instructions," he said. "The game is played a little differently, and the officials have to react to that. And there are adjustments that go on in the course of a series that you don’t see over the course of the regular season, when two teams will play and play different teams the next night.

"The games now are probably a little more intense … But no, they’re told to call it just the way they did (in the regular season)."

But, he added, "Are they perfect? This is a game of mistakes. Coaches make mistakes, players make mistakes and occasionally, even an official might."

With the improved Canadian dollar, revenues could be up from last season. That would mean a slight rise in the cap next season. It currently sits at $56.7 million.

"Our revenues, and again it is premature, we’re either going to be flat or up or down a little bit. And then we’ve got to factor in the Canadian dollar," he said.

As for Phoenix, no real news there. We did ask, however, if Bettman was willing to set a deadline on negotiations between the City of Glendale and Jerry Reinsdorf, which seem to be going on forever.

"At some point I will be, not tonight," said Bettman. "These things take time, but time is not unlimited. But I’m not yet ready to set a deadline.

"But I think we’re closer to the end of the process than we’ve ever been but we’re not there yet. My hope is it all works out and the Coyotes stay there."