Update: Perhaps the most straightforward and accessible explanation for the process of disallowing that would-be 2-0 Chicago goal came from Mike Milbury, who explains why it didn’t count in this video from the second intermission:
Ah, OK, that sort of works. Maybe?
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There are plenty of big momentum swings in playoff series and many individual games, but those shifts can be that much tougher to stomach when a controversial call happens. Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville was livid when a Jonathan Toews goal was disallowed because of a late goalie interference call in Game 1 on Sunday.
Moments later, the Los Angeles Kings scored to make what look like a 2-0 lead evaporate into a 1-1 tie in the second period. Here is the full sequence:
Goalie interference isn’t supposed to be reviewed by video - at least not until next season, if some tweaks are made - yet it certainly seemed like that happened.
Here’s the league’s ... interesting explanation:
At 3:22 of the second period in the Los Angeles Kings/Chicago Blackhawks game, the referee consulted video review to see if Jonathan Toews’ initial shot entered the Los Angeles net. It was determined Toews’ initial shot did not enter the net. The referee’s original call on the ice was “good goal” but a discussion between the on-ice officials resulted in a “no goal” decision because Toews made incidental contact with Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick before the puck crossed the goal line. This is not a reviewable play therefore the decision on the ice stands - no goal and no penalty.
The Twitter community was almost as confused as Quenneville was livid on the bench:
It's a rule until it's not a rule.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 18, 2014
I think instant replay is coming for goalie interference sooner than later. But it's not here yet which makes that call bizarre.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) May 18, 2014
The instant Toews continued into Quick (no effort to avoid)hoped a ref was waving goal off. Right call eventually made either ref conference
— Kerry Fraser (@kfraserthecall) May 18, 2014
Or you be the judge as to how it was arrived at? Must have been through conference!
— Kerry Fraser (@kfraserthecall) May 18, 2014
Remember folks; interference on the goalkeeper is not reviewable by video!
— Kerry Fraser (@kfraserthecall) May 18, 2014
The Blackhawks just scored a 2-1 goal moments ago, so maybe the bounces are going Chicago’s way now?