Erratic Goalie Interference Calls Leave Islanders Fuming & Perplexed
Uncertain goalie interference calls have cost the Islanders versus the Kings, Penguins & last night, the Blue Jackets.
Once at a lunch with Gary Bettman, he was asked about refereeing. He smartly smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a letter from many moons ago. The letter was composed of complaints about what else? Refereeing.
Issues with officiating have lived a long life in NHL-land, proven by Bettman’s generational note in the Commissioner’s sports jacket pocket.
But this is different.
The complaints hurled from Long Island to the Hudson Yards’ NHL offices happen to hold some water, and this time, we are not talking about the referees. We are talking about head-scratching video goal reviews that have bitten the Islanders one too many times during this playoff run.
And last night, it cost the Isles a win, a point in the standings, and gave the Columbus Blue Jackets two points after a shootout win, bringing them to within one point of the Isles instead of three back.
Huge difference, with only a dozen games remaining.
Here’s last night’s non-goal:
And here is the explanation by the NHL:
Challenge Initiated By: Situation Room
Type of Challenge: Goaltender Interference
Result: Call on the ice is upheld – No Goal NY Islanders
Explanation: Video review supported the Referees’ call on the ice that New York’s Kyle Palmieri impaired Elvis Merzlikins’ ability to play his position in the crease prior to the goal. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1 which states, in part, that “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.”
But if that’s the case, what happened last Tuesday in Pittsburgh? Why was Sidney Crosby's goal allowed to stay on the board?
Rickard Rakell hooked Ilya Sorokin’s stick, and if you follow the overhead view, Rakell’s stick was interfering with Sorokin IN his crease.
And if Crosby's goal was allowed to stay on the board, why wasn't Anders Lee’s or Anthony Duclair’s the week before that in Los Angeles?
Duclair reversed goal:
Lee reversed goal:
There are obvious inconsistencies in each of these reviewed situations.
But the ambiguity comes from the rule itself. And that needs to be addressed in the off-season - - without question.
A steamed Kyle Palmieri made certain to make his point about the grey area clear:
“He (referee) said there was contact initiated in the crease, and I guess the goalie needs five minutes to get reset and ready for the shot.”
And he’s right.
The NHL’s basis for the no-goal was this:
“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.”
But there is no mention of how long of a leash the league gives the goalie to reset.
Palmieri left the crease, and yet there was still time for Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins to shove Palmieri with his catching glove before the puck whizzed by the beat goaltender.
If Merzlikins didn't push Palmieri, he would have had ample time to reset. Plain and simple.
Palmieri was gone, and far out of the crease when the puck was passing Merzlikins (see the image below - - and that is with the puck on its way into the net).
So, how do we justify this inequity?
One can’t.
Following the game, head coach Patrick Roy was on fire:
“Palmieri was out of the crease and we tipped it in, and I think their goalie pushed him away at the same time. So, that’s how I see it. If Toronto is afraid to overturn calls made by their referee, we don't need Toronto. That's all I want to say.”
Currently, as the rules are written, there is no time or measurement to say, OK, the rest of this play, the offensive team can score. On that particular play, Palmieri wants to know when he can get out of goalie-interference-jail before he is able to tip in a game-winner.
My off-season suggestion to the rule committee: the skater has to have left the crease to allow the goaltender to make a "hockey action,” which includes being set or squared up - - once that happens, the opposing team can score again. If the goalie chooses to use that "hockey action" to shove an opposing player, then that action is to his own team’s detriment.
But next year is next year.
For now, the Islanders have to put this in the past because they are in an epic wildcard race, with no less than half a dozen teams vying for only two wild-card positions. And Ottawa seems to have a tightening grip on the first wild-card slot, leaving at least five teams clawing for that last playoff slot.
Twelve Games...
