Alright, worst call of the year part II is a bit over the top maybe.
But if you follow me on twitter you probably know my feelings by now on the NHL and how they handle reviewable content. One thorn in my side, and likely in the side of hockey fans everywhere, is goalie interference.
Let me be completely clear here. It doesn't matter to me what team it is, what the context is, or if the Kings are involved, there have been numerous injustices when it comes to goaltender interference this year and how it relates to goal decisions, and that frustrates the absolute crap out of me.
Earlier in the season the Kings were robbed of a win in Detroit, when the unthinkable happened and a puck came off the netting and went into the goal.
The explanation, and a rather weak one at that, was that this play was not a reviewable call under the laws of the game. Here we are yet again with another gaff in the NHL officiating book thanks to the lovely idea of things not being reviewable. The most frustrating thing about it is, is that these calls could easily be avoided with a proper re-evaluation of the reviewing rules and etiquette.
I'm getting ahead of myself though. What is it this time? Incidental contact with the goaltender, right.
I'd like to say this situation is as unique as the netting goal, but it's not. In the same night, Ottawa had a goal disallowed in a game against Montreal based on incidental contact.
What makes it unreviewable? Well the letter of the law does!
69.1 Interference on the Goalkeeper - This rule is based on the premise that an attacking player’s position, whether inside or outside the crease, should not, by itself, determine whether a goal should be allowed or disallowed. In other words, goals scored while attacking players are standing in the crease may, in appropriate circumstances be allowed. Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact. The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice judgment of the Referee(s), and not by means of video replay or review.
WHY.
WHY????
Why have the ability to review the play available if you aren't going to use it to make the correct call? It makes absolutely zero sense. That's the equivalent of having a fire extinguisher in case of emergency, but then putting it under lock and key.
It is easily the most missed called in hockey, and the referees are handcuffed in this situation. I would like to lay the blame entirely on these fellows in stripes, but they have to adhere to the book. The book tells them they can't review it. Which is wrong.
Particularly when the play involves something like what happened tonight, and what happens countless other times across the league on other nights. The following frames are from the Kings Ducks game where Kopitar's game tying goal late in the third was waved off as Marian Gaborik was shoved into the goaltender as the puck went in. Here is the video first off.
Now the images.
It's clear in these photos (forgive me for taking crude cell phone shots using my DVR) that not only was Gaborik attempting to stop, it was only by the will of the defender that he made contact with the goalie. That's two caveats in the goaltender interference rule that make it legal for the attacker.
Rule 69.1 expanded -If an attacking player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by a defending player so as to cause him to come into contact with the goalkeeper, such contact will not be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.
It's really a shame. This was a great game between two rivals, and it ends with a sour taste in my mouth. Nothing makes me more frustrated than a good hockey game being mired in controversy.
There is so much opportunity here for the NHL to come out looking like absolute GENIUSES! They could leave us all sitting in our barcaloungers saying "Wow, ya know what, it's really fantastic that the NHL expanded goal review."
Again I ask why this is not a reviewable play? Are there any real detractors to this?
Some say it will slow the game down. If you are concerned about that though then let's eliminate those meaningless 30 second scrums after the whistles that we allow to happen. NHL seems fine with that slowing down the game, but they have yet to come around to allowing a referee to skate over to the penalty box and check if a game deciding play is in fact the correct one.
Some believe it's a slippery slope. Once you review this, you might as well start reviewing hooks and offsides calls! These are very very different circumstances than reviewing a tedious hooking call. Even an offsides call is more run of the mill and mundane than a goal denying interference call. There can be a distinct line drawn no doubt. It doesn't have to be as black and white as allow everything or allow nothing. How about this: If it goes in the net and you aren't sure of the legality: REVIEW IT.
It's disappointing. At least we can find solace in the fact that they ARE talking about it, and did so recently at the GM meetings in Florida. Whether or not it will actually result in any changes who knows. Something has to break though.
I always like to take these situations to the Nth degree and say if this were game seven in overtime of the Stanley Cup finals...do you really want this to be a situation where the refs says "Sorry, I can't make that call because it's not reviewable."
I certainly don't. Don't misinterpret this as a whiny rant about losing a game to a cross town rival. That stings sure, but the frustration is more with the circumstances rather than the combattants. I get mad when I see this call happen between two Eastern Conference teams I don't really follow that closely. This is more about preserving the integrity of a fast paced and exciting sport. Make the right call, make sure you made the right call. It's too easy to sit and blame the officials, but this is a fast-paced game, and to ask them to make the call at real time with bodies and pucks flying everywhere is unreasonable.
EXPAND THE REVIEW SYSTEM!
And now I quote Captain Jean-Luc Picard.......Stardate 115673255234
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