Midway through the first period of their game against the Canucks, Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard tied up the game, blasting a shot past Vancouver netminder Eddie Lack.
No. Scratch that. No he didn’t. The shot was a perfect one, but the goal didn’t count.
Looked like Wild tied game but goal waved off because of interference by Haula. No goal, no penalty
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) March 1, 2014
Referee Brad Meier waved it off, claiming goaltender interference by Minnesota’s Erik Haula.
There’s no point in asking about a video review. Interference is the ref’s call on the ice, and not subject to confirmation by the NHL’s Situation Room. This was Meier’s call… and he blew it.
I have absolutely no clue how a ref standing 15 feet away staring right at it can blow a call that bad. That is embarrassing
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) March 1, 2014
I've covered the NHL 19 years. I have never seen anything like that. Meier is staring at crease, Lack isn't touched, he delays, waves it off
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) March 1, 2014
That’s the same Brad Meier who inspired protests in Moscow for waving off Fedor Tyutin’s go-ahead goal for Team Russia vs. USA.
At least in Sochi, he made the right call. Not so in Vancouver. Haula doing a pirouette at the top of the crease does not constitute goaltender interference. If the Canucks go on to win, we’ll be waiting for the protest banner. (Or, since they’re in Vancouver, maybe just flip over a car and set it on fire.)
UPDATE:
Michael Russo of the Star Tribune caught up with NHL Officiating Supervisor and former NHL referee Mick McGeough, who was in attendance:
I just interviewed Mick McGeough. He admits ref Brad Meier blew the call. "Good screen. Met the criteria for a good goal." #mnwild #nhl
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) March 1, 2014
Ouch.
Obviously, Russo doesn’t know what he’s talking about either. There can be goalie interference without making contact with the goalie. Also, McGeough wasn’t on the ice, and didn’t have the view that Meier did. I agree with the call.