The question that many NHL players, coaches, and fans ponder at various points in the season is what is goaltender interference, and nowhere was that question being asked more than at KeyBank Center, as one upheld goal by the Winnipeg Jets and one waved off goal for Buffalo cost the struggling Sabres a point in a 3-2 overtime loss on Thursday.
After Tage Thompson’s power-play goal gave the Sabres an early 1-0 lead, Winnipeg’s Gabriel Vilardi replied just 47 seconds later to tie the game, deflecting a point shot past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Vilardi made contact with Luukkonen’s glove as he crossed in front of the crease, but the NHL ruled that the contact between Vilardi and Luukkonen was “incidental” and “occurred outside the crease and did not constitute goaltender interference. According to Rule 69.1, 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.”
“I feel like that’s bullshit. There’s no way I can make a save on that. I’m not that far out from the crease,” A frustrated Luukkonen said after the game. “I don’t see a difference on (the goal waved off on) the other end. Our guy gets pushed into (Hellebuyck). It’s a quick game. It’s hard for the refs to make the right calls always, but I have no chance to make a save on the play.”
With the game tied 2-2 late in the second period, Sabres rookie Tyson Kozak buried a loose puck to score in his first NHL game, but Jets head coach Scott Arniel’s challenge was upheld after a video review determined Buffalo’s Beck Malenstyn “impaired Connor Hellebuyck’s ability to play his position in the crease prior to the puck entering the net. According to Rule 69.3, “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.”
After the game, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said he was pleased with the effort from the club in their fifth straight loss but was befuddled by what constitutes goalie interference anymore.
“You don’t know (if it’s goalie interference) unless you challenge it. It’s that kind of gray (area).” Ruff said. “I thought just the fact that he wasn’t allowed to make it safe. It’s at least an interference penalty. (Vilardi) knocked his hand down, that’s where the puck was going, you’ve got to challenge that. (The officials said) he was out of the crease. The guy went through was out of the crease. Does that mean the guy can run the goalie over because he’s out of the crease? No.”
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