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The Ever-Evolving Definition of Goaltender Interference
Throughout a tumultuous post-season marked by numerous contentious goaltender interference reviews, the hockey world witnessed yet another polarizing incident during overtime of Game 6 between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.
Stars forward Mason Marchment seemed to clinch victory for his team with a decisive overtime goal against Avalanche goaltender Alexander Georgiev. However, jubilation quickly turned to dismay as officials nullified the goal, citing goaltender interference by Stars forward Matt Duchene.
Despite Duchene’s positioning outside the crease and minimal contact with Georgiev following a collision with Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar, the officials upheld the call after a league-mandated review.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the decision to disallow the goal stemmed from Duchene’s alleged obstruction of Georgiev’s ability to defend his position in the crease prior to the puck entering the net, in compliance with Rule 69.1 of the NHL Rulebook.
Remarkably, this ruling is representative of a larger trend in this year’s playoffs, where the league has consistently supported the initial on-ice decisions regarding goaltender interference, with five out of six such calls being upheld.
Interestingly, Duchene ultimately emerged as the hero by netting the series-winning goal in double overtime, prompting euphoric reactions from fans who proclaimed “puck don’t lie.” Nonetheless, the confusion surrounding the disallowed goal lingered among spectators, sparking varied and passionate responses across social media platforms.
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Source: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman
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