The Florida Panthers failed to overturn a go-ahead goal by Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes via Coach’s Challenge.

With the score tied at one 6:37 into the second period of Thursday’s game, Canucks forward Nils Aman won an offensive zone faceoff, sending the puck back to the blueline. Hughes had his initial shot blocked, but was able to fire the rebound past goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. 

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice challenged the play for a missed stoppage, believing there to be a hand pass on the play.  The officials hopped on the headsets as the Situation Room reviewed the play, taking a few minutes to come to a ruling.

Referee Brian Pochmara relayed the verdict.

“After review on the play,” announced Pochmara, “we have a goal.”

Though no explanation was given, it appeared he Situation Room determined that the puck inadvertently hit Aman’s hand on the way down.  Unlike Hockey Canada’s rules, the NHL rulebook does not specifically require the puck hit the ice for a legal faceoff.

 

 

Florida’s bench contended that the faceoff that started the sequence hit the glove of Canucks forward Nils Aman and should have called a hand pass. The replay crew thought otherwise — deciding that the puck was dropped on Aman’s hand and redirection was inadvertent– so the goal stood.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice was disappointed in the ruling. 

“The puck went off the glove,” Maurice said. “Thought I could get a call off of it.”

Rule 38.10 covers Coaches’ Challenges for a missed stoppage:

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 the play should have been stopped but was not at some point after the puck entered the attacking zone but prior to the goal being scored; where this standard is met, the goal will be disallowed.

Potential infractions that would require a play stoppage in the offensive zone include, but may not be limited to: Hand Pass (Rule 79); High-Sticking the Puck (Rule 80); and Puck Out of Bounds (Rule 85). Such infractions will only serve as a basis for overturning a GOAL call on the ice if video review can conclusively establish that a game stoppage event had occurred in the offensive zone and was missed by the On-Ice Official(s). 

A bad puck drop is not a missed stoppage.  The only consideration on this play would be the hand pass, which the league determined did not apply here.

Rule 79.1 specifies:

A player shall be permitted to stop or “bat” a puck in the air with his open hand, or push it along the ice with his hand, and the play shall not be stopped unless, in the opinion of the on-ice officials, he has directed the puck to a teammate, or has allowed his team to gain an advantage…

From the NHL’s Situation Room:

Challenge Initiated By: Florida

Type of Challenge: Missed Game Stoppage Event – Hand Pass

Result: Original call confirmed – Goal Vancouver

Explanation: Video review determined the puck deflected off Nils Aman’s glove during the faceoff and, therefore, does not constitute a hand pass. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 79.1.

 

Florida was assessed a minor penalty for delay of game. The Panthers, though, bailed out their video coach, killing off the penalty. 

Maurice is 25-for-34 (74%) on Coach’s Challenge since stepping behind the Panthers’ bench. This is his first challenge of the 2024-25 season.

The Vancouver Canucks went on to win the game 3-2 in overtime. Referees for the game were Jean Hebert (#15) and Brian Pochmara (#16); linesmen were Michel Cormier (#76) and Ben O’Quinn (#91).