The game-winning Vegas Golden Knights goal was confirmed after the Chicago Blackhawks issued a Coach’s Challenge for offside.
Nicolas Roy carried the puck over the blueline midway through the second period of Tuesday night’s game. He passed to Ryan Reaves, posted down low, whose centering pass with tipped over the line by William Carrier, giving Vegas a 2-0 lead.
The Blackhawks challenged the play, arguing that Vegas winger Ryan Reaves preceded the puck into the attacking zone.
Linesmen Brad Kovachik and Libor Suchanek headed over to review the play with the NHL’s Situation Room.
Kovachik was positioned right along the blueline on the far size of the ice at the time of the zone entry.
After review, the NHL confirmed the goal on the ice. From the league:
“Video review confirmed that Ryan Reaves was on-side prior to the puck entering the attacking zone before William Carrier’s goal. “
The Situation Room determined that Reaves’ back skate remained in contact with the ice and the blue line.
The announcers mentioned the league’s proposed rule to change the blueline into a vertical plane.
“It is a close call. If that back skate – if it’s in the air, it’s okay.”
That’s not entirely true. The current NHL rule is that the trailing skate must remain in contact with the ice for the player to remain onside.
The National Hockey League’s General Managers approved the proposed offside change back in March. The rule still needs to pass through the league’s Competition Committee and receive formal approval from the Board of Governors. Assuming both are in agreement, the new rule could be in place for the start of next season.
With their failed Coach’s Challenge, the Blackhawks were given a minor penalty for delay of game.
Jeremy Colliton says the Blackhawks thought Reaves' skate was off the ice so they decided to challenge. Says they trust their penalty kill so it was worth the risk.
(Further confirming the new rule is NOT in place.)
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) August 12, 2020
Chicago’s Kirby Dach scored shorthanded on the ensuing power play. It was the Blackhawks’ lone goal of the game as they fell to the Golden Knights 4-1 in Game 1.
This was the Hawks’ first failed offside challenge of the season; Chicago went 2-for-2 in the regular season.
