NHL Officiating on Goaltender Interference Needs a Review

Like what I did there with the title?  The NHL’s stance on goaltender interference needs a review.  Speaking of which how many of you saw the game between the Oilers and Flames yesterday, where in Overtime, the Oilers had a goal disallowed due to what was deemed goaltender interference by the NHL Command Centre in Toronto?  Unbelievable.  Yet again the Edmonton Oilers were stiffed by the League.  This time it was so bad that the face of the NHL, Connor McDavid, had seen enough and chirped the refs after scoring in the Shoot-Out to give the Oilers the win.

After scoring the Shootout winner, McDavid pointed upstairs as if to tell the league “Review this.”  This article form the Edmonton Sun sums it up nicely.

“McDavid, who endures more hooking and slashing and holding than most players in the league and has more reasons to complain than most players, rarely mouths off. But he couldn’t help it this time.”

Edmonton Oilers Disallowed Goal News - 01-25-18

“This is the same league that let Ryan Kesler grab Cam Talbot’s pad and pull open his five-hole in last year’s playoffs, remember.

Players all over the league are becoming more and more frustrated with a rule the league can no longer explain and display any consistency with and, as Thursday night proved, the lack of understanding can be very costly.”

Case in point look at this comparison and tell us which goal should have been allowed and which one should have been disallowed.

Incompetence at its best

Let’s be realistic about this.  Those missed calls in the Anaheim Ducks / Edmonton Oilers playoff series cost the Oilers a couple of games and the Series.  I’d venture that even some Anaheim players would agree with that statement.  Who know those missed calls may have in fact cost the Oilers a Stanley Cup.  Who’s to say they wouldn’t have gone on to beat Nashville in the Conference finals and then a battered Penguins team in the Stanley Cup finals?  Missed calls don’t have a larger impact than that.

Last Spring, it was not just one missed call. Case in point see: Referees ruin the game as Ducks beat Oilers 4-3 in overtime

Make no mistake, the referees’ astounding non-call on Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry’s obvious interference 1:37 into the second period ruined this game.

The inconsistency on the goaltender interference rule is something that needs to be addressed and soon. Anyone notice how nervous the official was prior to announcing that the NHL Command Centre had overturned the call on the ice of what appeared to be the game winning goal by Ryan Strome in Overtime?  Yikes?  Even the official was leery of how the fans might react.  Fact is enough is enough!  Players, coaches and fans are fed up.  Here’s a sample of some comments from Oilers fans:

  • “This is so bad. Even with review, the refs got buttons covering their eyes and poison ivy in their mouths. For shame, NHL, for shame!!! They give fines and suspension for illegal hits to the players. There should be fines and suspensions for incompetent calls given to the refs.”
  • “NHL needs to fix the officiating because this basically shows that the refs gave the ducks the goal and the series , to me that’s pretty serious but it seems nothing is being done because the NHL are the ones basically picking the outcomes . Kinda funny how no Canadian team has won a cup since bettman and before him Canada won 7 out of the last 10 years . It’s getting obvious.”
  • “Reviewing plays in sports is ruining that sport!  In a league where they are tying to apparently find ways to increase scoring because none wants to see a 1-0 game and they find new creative ways to DISALLOW GOALS instead of new ways to allow them. More proof that the decision makers for the NHL and there waste of skin “competition committee” is bad for the game. Whether it’s NHL for a goal or offside or the NFL for what a catch is (still nobody knows what a catch is)”
  • “Who knows what’s going on with this game?”
  • “Why do I even watch hockey?”
  • “Absolute joke”

I watched the OT and disallowed goal with my eight year old son.  We were in disbelief.  Even he stated that the Oilers were not being treated fairly.  He asked why doesn’t the NHL do something about this?  Good question… from an 8 year old no less.

Players and coaches are frustrated.  Players roll their eyes, goaltenders who in fact are being interfered with (Cam Talbot) and not getting the call are frustrated.  Marquee players such as Connor McDavid, who is a respectful as they get, has become frustrated as well.  No one know what goalie interference is anymore.  Right Milan Lucic?

What is goaltender interference anyway?

Under the NHL rule book (# 69), this will result in a minor penalty to the offending player. If a goal is scored as a result of a player obstructing the goaltender, the goal will be disallowed and a minor penalty assessed at the referee’s discretion. Here’s a more detailed description of the rule:

Rule 69. Interference on the Goalkeeper

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 judgement of the Referee(s), and not by means of video replay or review.

For purpose of this rule “contact”, whether incidental or otherwise, shall mean any contact that is made between or among a goalkeeper and attacking player(s), whether by means of a stick or any part of the body.

The overriding rationale of this rule is that a goalkeeper should have the ability to move freely within his goal crease without being hindered by the actions of an attacking player. If an attacking player enters the goal crease and, by his actions, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.

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.

Goalie Interference Controversy

Clear on goaltender interference yet?

69.2 Penalty – In all cases in which an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, whether or not the goalkeeper is inside or outside the goal crease, and whether or not a goal is scored, the attacking player will receive a penalty (minor or major, as the Referee deems appropriate). In all cases where the infraction being imposed is to the attacking player for hindering the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely in his goal crease, the penalty to be assessed is for goalkeeper interference.

In exercising his judgement, the Referee should give more significant consideration to the degree and nature of the contact with the goalkeeper than to the exact location of the goalkeeper at the time of the contact.

Here’s more on the rule:

69.3 Contact Inside the Goal Crease – If an attacking player initiates contact with a goalkeeper, incidental or otherwise, while the goalkeeper is in his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.

If a goalkeeper, in the act of establishing position within his goal crease, initiates contact with an attacking player who is in the goal crease, and this results in an impairment of the goalkeeper’s ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the will be disallowed.

If, after any contact by a goalkeeper who is attempting to establish position in his goal crease, the attacking player does not immediately vacate his current position in the goal crease (i.e. give ground to the goalkeeper), and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed. In all such cases, whether or not a goal is scored, the attacking player will receive a minor penalty for goalkeeper interference.

If an attacking player establishes a significant position within the goal crease, so as to obstruct the goalkeeper’s vision and impair his ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.

For this purpose, a player “establishes a significant position within the crease” when, in the Referee’s judgement, his body, or a substantial portion thereof, is within the goal crease for more than an instantaneous period of time.

and the rule continues:

9.4 Contact Outside the Goal Crease – If an attacking player initiates any contact with a goalkeeper, other than incidental contact, while the goalkeeper is outside his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.9.4 Contact Outside the Goal Crease – If an attacking player initiates any contact with a goalkeeper, other than incidental contact, while the goalkeeper is outside his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.

A goalkeeper is not “fair game” just because he is outside the goal crease. The appropriate penalty should be assessed in every case where an attacking player makes unnecessary contact with the goalkeeper. However, incidental contact will be permitted when the goalkeeper is in the act of playing the puck outside his goal crease provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such unnecessary contact.

When a goalkeeper has played the puck outside of his crease and is then prevented from returning to his crease area due to the deliberate actions of an attacking player, such player may be penalized, if by his actions outside of his crease he deliberately interferes with an attacking player who is attempting to play the puck or an opponent.

I like this part:

69.6 Rebounds and Loose Pucks – In a rebound situation, or where a goalkeeper and attacking player(s) are simultaneously attempting to play a loose puck, whether inside or outside the crease, incidental contact with the goalkeeper will be permitted, and any goal that is scored as a result thereof will be allowed.

In the event that a goalkeeper has been pushed into the net together with the puck by an attacking player after making a stop, the goal will be disallowed. If applicable, appropriate penalties will be assessed.

In the event that the puck is under a player in or around the crease area (deliberately or otherwise), a goal cannot be scored by pushing this player together with the puck into the goal. If applicable, the appropriate penalties will be assessed, including a penalty shot if deemed to be covered in the crease deliberately (see Rule 63).

69.7 Fines and Suspensions – An attacking player who, in the judgement of the Referee, initiates contact with the goalkeeper, whether inside or outside the crease, in a fashion that would otherwise warrant a penalty, will be assessed an appropriate penalty (minor or major and/or game misconduct) and will be subject to additional sanctions as appropriate pursuant to Rule 28 – Supplementary Discipline.

Ok so now that we are all clear on the NHL’s rule, why so much inconsistency with this infraction? It’s not just the Oilers either, but they are the poster child for missed calls over the past few seasons.  Frustrating for a team that does not score a lot of goals.  Hopefully the NHL will wake up when it comes to improving the entertainment value of the game.  Fans are getting tired of the same old, same old.  It’s time for a new generation of players and teams to be respected, promoted and cherished.  Chicago has won their Cups, so has Los Angeles and the Bruins of Boston and perhaps this year the upstart Vegas Golden Knights.  How about a little love and respect for our Canadian teams?

Here’s some more thoughts on yesterday’s incident:

and on the topic of goalie interference:

I’m at a loss for words.  As a hockey fan, it truly is hard to watch this night in and night out.  Does Gary Bettman care?  Does Colin Campbell care?  Does Stephen Walkom care?  Does Jeremy Jacobs care?  I know that a lot of hockey fans care.  A lot of coaches care and Connor McDavid cares.

The NHL has a number of issues to deal with, let’s add another one to the list shall we?  Clarity and consistency on goaltender interference should be near the top of the list.

One more thought.  How many of Wayne Gretzky’s or Bobby Orr or Maurice Richard’s goals would have been called back due to goaltender interference in their day?

On that note, Happy Birthday Mr. Gretzky.