A crowded crease: Jets and other NHL teams seek clarity on goalie interference

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This article was published 02/02/2018 (2778 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A slash to the mask of Connor Hellebuyck still had the hockey world buzzing Friday — and the Winnipeg Jets and their fans feeling like they’d been on the receiving end of a slap in the face by the NHL.

Despite having a big divisional game on tap Saturday night with the surging Colorado Avalanche in town, much of the talk Friday continued to focus on a disputed goal that was allowed to stand in Thursday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Coach Paul Maurice and several players insisted the debate isn’t about one goal in one game over an 82-game season, but rather an ever-changing definition of what is goaltender interference and how the rule has been tweaked mid-season.

“I think there was a lot called throughout the first half of the year, and then they started trying to find out where that line is of what’s acceptable and what’s not. I mean, in my opinion you do have to protect the goalie, especially in a play where you’re getting a stick broken over your mask,” said defenceman Josh Morrissey. “That’s pretty dangerous. It’s a tough call, but it’s something where what we want is consistency as players. At the end of the day, you do need to protect those guys. Maybe a goal gets called off here and there for things like that, but I think you err on the side of protecting those goalies.”

‘I mean, in my opinion you do have to protect the goalie, especially in a play where you’re getting a stick broken over your mask’ – Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey

For example, the Jets had a goal waved off last week in Anaheim because referees deemed Mathieu Perreault made contact with Ducks goalie John Gibson just before Bryan Little put the puck in the net. Not only did the tally come off the scoreboard, but Perreault was penalized on the play.

But exactly one week later, there was no call as James Neal accidentally smashed Hellebuyck across the head while trying to swat at a loose puck Thursday night. The impact broke his stick in half. And seconds later, Eric Haula buried it to put the Golden Knights up a goal.

“(Thursday) night was a similar play. I feel like it was a stick in the face. It should have been a penalty and no goal. They called it differently because the league wants to get (the rule) changed,” Perreault said Friday.

So what’s the difference? Well, the NHL sent out a memo following last weekend’s All-Star game indicating there would be more leeway applied after some recent high-profile goals on plays involving superstars Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews were wiped out. In a nutshell, the league felt too many goals were getting overturned.

‘I don’t think they know, I don’t think we know. I don’t think anyone knows now because this cat is out of the bag’ – St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong

“The idea the goaltender would operate comfortably in his crease I think was well-established. And the argument was (whether) there really was goaltender interference there. The pendulum had swung so far. I’m going to assume (Thursday) night was a one-off, that we won’t see that again. I don’t think they’re encouraging the pendulum to go to the other side where all swings are good when the puck is in the crease. I think they just missed it, they made a mistake, I don’t think you’ll see it again,” said Maurice.

The NHL issued a brief statement simply saying: “After reviewing all available replays and consulting with NHL Hockey Operations staff, the referee confirmed no goaltender interference infractions occurred.” It would appear the league felt the missed penalty call against Neal, which can’t be reviewed, didn’t prevent Hellebuyck from making a save. No other clarity or explanation was provided.

“I think it’s really confusing throughout the league,” Morrissey said. “I’m sure if you ask, honestly, some of the guys on Vegas, I’m not sure they would have thought it would have counted. Some of them might have. I think as coaches, you make that call and you really don’t know which way it’s going to go, which night, any night, any call. It’s definitely been confusing, but at the same time as a player you can’t do anything about it.”

Winnipeg wasn’t the only scene of controversy Thursday. The St. Louis Blues were irate after a Boston goal was allowed to stand after goalie Jake Allen appeared to be pushed out of his crease by a pair of Bruins.

“I don’t think they know, I don’t think we know. I don’t think anyone knows now because this cat is out of the bag,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said following the game when asked how to fix the issue. “I don’t know what the rules are.”

Maurice was asked Friday if he’s had any discussions with the NHL about the play or goalie interference in general.

“I don’t call them, they don’t call me. It’s a nice arrangement,” he cracked. As for whether someone else within the organization would, Maurice replied, “only if their job description is worse than mine.”

“There’s probably enough people talking about it, you don’t need me to. I don’t feel any different this morning then I did last night. I didn’t like the call. But game (Saturday) so off we go,” he said.

And it should be quite a game. Colorado (28-18-4) has been on a tear of late and currently occupies the final wildcard playoff spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg (30-13-9) sits on top of the Central Division, nine points up on the Avalanche.

“They’re good. They’re a fast team. We’re going to have to be ready to play the same game. Play hard and not get frustrated. As of late, games have been low scoring, so we have to get comfortable with that. (Saturday) is going to be no different,” said Perreault.

Morrissey said there won’t be any carryover from the obvious anger over the Vegas game.

“You just gotta move on. You know, it is what it is, there’s nothing you can do about it,” he said. “It’ll get talked about, just based on some of the controversy going on with goalie interference calls for the next couple days, but there’s nothing you can do about it now as players. The game’s over, and we have to focus on Colorado. We just gotta move on, the sun came up today and I thought we had a pretty good practice.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg