Chicago’s Andrew Shaw thought he’d scored the opening goal in the Blackhawks’ game against the Maple Leafs on Friday night, as he put his own rebound past Leafs goaltender James Reimer with 7:53 left to go in the first period.
Toronto head coach Mike Babcock challenged the play for being offside.
After linesmen Scott Cherrey and Steve Miller reviewed the play, they determined it was offside. Marian Hossa’s skate was in the air and not in contact with the blueline, per Rule 83:
A player is on-side when either of his skates are in contact with, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line
It’s been rumored that the NHL may consider evaluating offside plays by the plane of the blue line, rather than through skate contact with the blueline, as is the current standard.
