Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry Fraser wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca!
Hi Kerry:
First of all, I love your blog. I always enjoy insights into the game such as this so keep up the great work.
What did you think of the Evander Kane goal against the Ottawa Senators? Good call, bad call? The commentators seemed to have been a bit confused regarding the rule and they had me thinking it would be called off. However, it was deemed a good goal. Was this a easy call to make for the war room in Toronto, or did the fact that the referee on the ice called it a goal come into play as well?
PS - Ottawa regained the lead quite quickly so it looks like the call will did not impact the outcome of them game directly.
Thanks,
Chad Butt
St. John's, NL
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Hi Kerry
I was wondering- what did you think about Evander Kane's game tying goal late in the Sens-Jets game? Was it legal? The refs seemed to review it quite quickly. Also what about the penalty shot. Didn't Wellwood appear as if he got a shot on goal? Shouldn't that have just been a penalty?
Cheers,
Justin
Hi Chad and Justin:
I am in total agreement with the ruling on the ice for both the penalty shot awarded to Kyle Wellwood and the decision to allow Evander Kane's goal to stand following confirmation by video review. First the penalty shot.
Even though Kyle Wellwood did make a play on Craig Anderson from in close after he was fouled from behind, his scoring opportunity was greatly diminished through the foul.
Rule 57.3 in part reads, "The intention of this rule is to restore a reasonable scoring opportunity which has been lost. If, however, the player fouled is able to recover and obtain a reasonable scoring opportunity (or a teammate is able to gain a reasonable scoring opportunity), no penalty shot should be awarded but the appropriate penalty should be signaled and assessed if a goal is not scored on the play…(cont'd) If the foul was from behind and the player was denied a "more" reasonable scoring opportunity due to the foul, then the penalty shot should still be awarded."
Kyle Wellwood was denied a "more" reasonable scoring as a result of the foul from behind and it was properly restored when the referee awarded him a penalty shot. Evander Kane also had minor chance on the rebound off Wellwood's diminished scoring attempt. That rebound attempt made by Kane as he skated by the net does not qualify as a "reasonable scoring opportunity" described in the language of the rule to eliminate the penalty shot. Great call by the ref on this play but not a good attempt on the subsequent penalty shot by Kyle Wellwood.
Now let's look at Evander Kane's goal. Kyle Wellwood was very active in this game and did a nice job taking the puck to the net after winning the faceoff. Jason Spezza 'Louisville Sluggered' the high rebound right into the chest of Evander Kane as he attacked from the front of the net.
The puck bounced off Kane's chest as his forward momentum into the goal crease received a little assistance from Sens defenceman Filip Kuba. I don't believe Kane knew where puck actually was after it struck his chest. As Kane set himself for contact in the crease and with the crossbar he elevates his right elbow making contact with the puck once again. The puck then deflected off Kane's elbow, overtop of a sprawled Craig Anderson and into the net.
I deem both points of contact with the puck into Evander Kane's body (chest and elbow) to be deflections. There was no deliberate chest bump or chicken wing to direct the puck into the net that would have negated the goal.
Chad, the low referee (on the goal line) is obligated to make a ruling (point goal or wave off) when the puck enters the net. This standard operating policy is required in the event that a video review is returned as inconclusive. If that were to occur then the initial decision made by the low ref would stand; that is unless a committee meeting at the refs crease with the three other officials provided additional information that would reverse the initial call!
In this case, the right call was made in heavy traffic at the net by the referee and confirmed by video review in Toronto.
You're on a roll guys. Keep up the good work.
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