Six times in the first period of Saturday’s game between the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, the puck crossed the line, the horn sounded, and the team celebrated.  Three of those times, the goal was called back after video review.

14:36 – Blue Jackets Challenge for Offside

The Rangers appeared to take a 2-0 lead on a wrister from Filip Chytil. The Blue Jackets’ bench spotted an issue with the zone entry and challenged the play. After review, referee Jean Hebert confirmed: no goal.

From the Situation Room:

Video review determined that New York’s Alexis Lafrenière preceded the puck into the offensive zone and was in an off-side position prior to Filip Chytil’s goal.

According to Rule 38.9, “The standard for overturning the call in the event of a “GOAL” call on the ice is that the NHL Situation Room, after reviewing any and all available replays and consulting with the On-Ice Official(s), determines that one or more Players on the attacking team preceded the puck into the attacking zone prior to the goal being scored and that, as a result, the play should have been stopped for an “Off-Side” infraction; where this standard is met, the goal will be disallowed.”

 

 

Columbus captain Boone Jenner scored just over four minutes later to tie the game at 1-1.  The Rangers would keep pressing, though, and regain the lead just over a minute later…   or so they thought.

9:14 – Blue Jackets Challenge for Offside

The Rangers dumped the puck into the Columbus end where it was collected by defenseman Erik Gudbranson.  The blueliner attempted to flip the puck out of the zone, but failed to get enough height on the puck. Rangers center Mika Zibanejad gloved the puck down and fired a shot that beat goaltender glove side.

One interesting thing about the Coach’s Challenge for offside is that the rule is only concerned with the zone entry, not with a change of possession. Even though the Blue Jackets had possession and control of the puck after the Rangers’ offside zone entry, Columbus still maintained the ability to challenge until the puck exits the defensive zone.

Once again, Columbus challenged the play.  The Situation Room determined that winger Chris Kreider preceded the puck into the attacking zone.  This time, referee Mitch Dunning relayed the news: no goal.

The momentum started to shift in the Blue Jackets’ favor. Columbus appeared to take the lead just 110 seconds later.

7:26 – League Reviews Jackets’ Goal

Columbus forward Patrik Laine tucked the puck past goaltender Igor Shesterkin. Referee Mitch Dunning emphatically signalled for a goal on the play as the horn sounded and the cannon fired.

The NHL’s Situation Room opted to take another look at the play. 

The overhead camera clearly showed that defenseman Jacob Trouba deflected the puck before it completely crossed the line.  One more review… one more no goal.

 

The two teams finished the game without any additional reviews or challenges.  Columbus went on to win the game 5-3 on the strength of a Boone Jenner hat trick… and two goals wiped out by their video team. 

Referees for the game were Jean Hebert (#15) and Mitch Dunning (#20), with linesmen James Tobias (#61) and Tommy Hughes (#65).