Anthony Cirelli and the Tampa Lightning thought they had opened the scoring gates in Game 5 against the Florida Panthers when the forward found a loose puck in front of the net and slipped it past Sergei Bobrovsky.
When the goal was scored it appeared as though Cirelli was given a bit of help at the hands of former Panther Anthony Duclair, and what was supposedly legal disruption in front of the net. That notion quickly changed thanks to a challenge by Florida head coach Paul Maurice.
Upon review, the goal was overturned as there was deemed to have been goalie interference by Duclair. The league’s official ruling stated, “Video review determined Tampa Bay’s Anthony Duclair impaired Sergei Bobrovsky’s ability to play his position in the crease prior to Anthony Cirelli’s goal.”
The NHL’s decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1 which states, in part, “Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.”
Dave Jackson, NHL rules analyst, weighed in on the ESPN broadcast noting that he believed it was a tough call to make but that Duclair “gets (into the goalie’s crease) by himself, he’s not pushed in. He’s trying to keep himself outside the blue paint but he does put his foot in, it’s between the goalkeeper’s glove … I think this is a good challenge.”
In a series the Lightning trailed 3-1 heading into the game, a goal in the first period to put them up would’ve been a welcomed boost to gain some momentum, but it wasn’t meant to be.
