Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi made an incredible play to keep the puck out of the net against the Dallas Stars.
While he got away with it, what Josi did is against the rules.
Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston had a terrific scoring chance from the faceoff circle with 3:13 remaining in the first period of a scoreless game on Saturday night. With goaltender Juuse Saros out of position after making the initial stop, it was up to Josi to prevent a goal. The Nashville captain kicked his left leg out and flashed the glove, catching the puck out of the air and throwing it.
Rule 67.2 addresses handling the puck:
A player shall be permitted to catch the puck out of the air but must immediately place it or knock it down to the ice.
Since Josi was in the goal crease when he committed the infraction, Rule 67.4 applies:
If a defending player, except a goalkeeper, while play is in progress, falls on the puck, holds the puck, picks up the puck, or gathers the puck into his body or hands from the ice in the goal crease area, the play shall be stopped immediately and a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team.
There was no whistle from rookie referee Morgan MacPhee, working his 18th NHL game. The missed penalty is not eligible for video review.
The prior night in Boston, referee Tom Chmielewski issued a penalty shot on a nearly-identical situation where Bruisn defenseman Parker Wotherspoon caught a Winnipeg Jets shot.
The Dallas Stars went on to win the game 3-2, scoring two goals in the final 15 seconds of regulation. Referees were Francis Charron (#6) and Morgan MacPhee (#43), with linesmen Matt MacPherson (#83) and Andrew Smith (#51).
