The New York Islanders’ go-ahead goal was disallowed after a video review showed the puck never completely crossed the goal line.
With the game tied 3-3 in the third period, the Isles appeared to take the lead on a goal by Sebastian Aho. After a second look by the NHL’s Situation Room, the goal was waved off.
The puck skittered across the goal line before it was batted away by Avs’ defenseman Ryan Murray. The puck appeared to have never completely crossed the goal line.
“We thought it was in,” said Islanders coach Barry Trotz. “They looked at it and said it was not in. It was actually our stick [Anders Lee] that probably prevented it from going in. It just needed another inch. There should have been a penalty … [Aho] was hauled down. If it wasn’t a goal, we should have been on a power play.”
This would be the perfect situation for precise puck tracking. While the NHL has been focused on player tracking and puck speed on shots, the real value of puck tracking comes in the improvements to the game on the ice. Knowing conclusively every time the puck crosses the goal line – or doesn’t, in this case – is one of the greatest benefits of puck tracking, once the NHL is able to get it to the level of detail needed to gauge puck location with the appropriate level of accuracy. It sure would’ve come in handy here, and it would’ve saved a video review.
Colorado’s Andre Burakovsky took advantage of a failed clear by Ryan Pulock later in the period, scoring the eventual game-winning goal. Colorado went on to win 5-3.
Referees for the game were Peter MacDougall (#38) and Brandon Blandina (#39); linesmen were David Brisebois (#96) and Brandon Gawryletz (#64).
