Answers:
1. The linesman dropping the puck makes the call. The "why" part is a few reasons; think like a "false start" in football, for the most part. But the visiting team has to put his stick on the ice first, followed by the home team. Both have to come to a stop and wait for the drop. Both must have their skates square and even. All their teammates must be on the correct side of the circle and motionless.
2. They are lenient and not consistent with that call. Sometimes they call icing and other times they let it slide...nothing new under the sun with that call. It's been like that for eons!
3. Yes...actually Round 2 can't start until the teams clinch their Round 1 series anyway. Best of 5 went away when the NHL figured out they make more $$$ on more games played. I remember 2 out of 3, then 3 out of 5, before the last 2 rounds were 4 out of 7.
4. Probably not anymore, Big Guy. The days of beating a goalie that can see a puck from over 20 feet out is really a rarity these days. Back in the day, the goalie pads, and equipment was smaller...as were most of the goalies. Now you have goalies in there that are 6' 7" and take up 1/2 of the net. They are "better" in a sense, that the training, knowledge and scouting is much improved from the old days of Gump, Eddie and Rogie.
5. They can....
6. They will...
7. They are...
8. It is...