Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Patrick had an easy tap-in goal waved off during Monday’s loss to the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Travis Konecny’s shot deflected off the glove of Pens goalie Matt Murray, right to Patrick who was posted at the far side of the crease.
Referee Kyle Rehman got to his whistle before Patrick got to the loose puck for an easy goal.
From Rehman’s position, it appeared Murray had gloved Konecny’s shot. His view of the puck – loose in the crease – was obstructed at the time he stopped play.
Unfortunately for Rehman, his error was clear from a reverse-angle view.
“I guess everybody makes mistakes,” Patrick said of the call that cost the Flyers a goal.
The referee later apologized for the quick whistle.
NHL security said the league doesn’t permit referees to be made available but Jake Voracek said referee Kyle Rehman apologized after the waved-off goal due to the too-early whistle.
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) February 12, 2019
The NHL issued a statement after the game citing human error as the reason for the quick whistle, as the referee believed the puck to be in the goaltender’s glove. The league also stated that the call was made in accordance with Rule 31.2 and is not reviewable.
From the NHL rulebook:
Rule 31.2 – As there is a human factor involved in blowing the whistle to stop play, the Referee may deem the play to be stopped slightly prior to the whistle actually being blown. The fact that the puck may come loose or cross the goal line prior to the sound of the whistle has no bearing if the Referee has ruled that the play had been stopped prior to this happening.
Rule 78.5 also comes into play on the goal being waved off.
78.5 Disallowed Goals – Apparent goals shall be disallowed by the Referee and the appropriate announcement made by the Public Address Announcer … when the Referee deems the play has been stopped, even if he had not physically had the opportunity to stop play by blowing his whistle.
Tough one for the Flyers. Tough one for Kyle Rehman.
