Another Calgary Goal is Disallowed

The NHL better thank Johnny Hockey for scoring with 20 seconds left in the game, and then the team for winning in overtime.

An early goal was disallowed even though it appears to go completely over the line.

Check out the still image and video replay at NBC Sports.

What a mess this would have been if Calgary had lost by a goal.  Not to mention that the exact same thing happened back in 2004.

Apparently, because the black line is painted below the ice, you can place a puck on the line, stand back 10 feet, and it would look like a valid goal.  I guess.

The Globe and Mail shared this perpective:

What’s crazy is that the NHL is even in this position, especially after so many plays like this in the past. In fact, Calgary was likely robbed of a key goal in a deciding game in the Stanley Cup final 11 years ago on a remarkably similar play, when Martin Gelinas – now a Flames assistant coach – directed a puck into Nikolai Khabibulin’s pad with his skate.

As was the case then and now, the angle shown again and again on television was from the typical replay side shot facing the net, meaning white ice was visible but very little was conclusive.

Because the puck has to completely cross the line, the only way to tell would be an overhead shot, and on Tuesday, the only overhead available showed the crossbar obscuring the view.

The NHL’s new cameras that are embedded in the posts in these playoffs also apparently didn’t provide more clarity, but we were never given that look on the broadcast or any explanation why it wasn’t available.

The league ultimately released a vague statement stating that “video review was inconclusive … therefore the referee’s call on the ice stands.”

Image courtesy of Calgary Walk so Kids Can Talk 2015.