The Los Angeles Kings unsuccessfully challenged the Edmonton Oilers’ game-tying goal in Game 3 and went on to give up the game-winner on the ensuing power play.

Edmonton’s Evander Kane scored with 6:42 remaining in the third period to knot things up at 4-4. The NHL’s Situation Room had already reviewed the play to ensure the puck wasn’t kicked. The reviews, though, weren’t quite done.

Los Angeles Kings head coach Jim Hiller called timeout to allow his staff additional time to review the play. After his 30-second timeout expired – and, pressured by the officials – Hiller ultimately decided to issue a Coach’s Challenge.

 

 

Coaches can’t just challenge the goal in general. They’re required to provide the reason for the challenge, which is limited to offside, goaltender interference, or a missed stoppage. Hiller challenged for interference, potentially thinking that Kane’s positioning or stick prior to the goal may have prevented netminder Darcy Kuemper from playing his position.

The Situation Room conferred with refs Frederick L’Ecuyer and Dan O’Rourke, ruling that there was no goaltender interference on the play. The goal would stand. The game was tied.

“We got a good look at it. We took plenty of time. We felt it was goalie interference, so we challenged it,” said Hiller. “Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose on those. Tonight we lost, and it cost us big time. No other way around it.”

The Oilers lost on a similar challenge in Game 1 when they contested a penalty to Jake Walman for shooting the puck over the glass; the NHL released video that shows they were not able to conclusively determine if the puck made contact.

Here’s the official ruling from the league:

Video review determined Evander Kane did not kick the puck directly into the net as it made contact with his stick before crossing the goal line.

Los Angeles then initiated a Coach’s Challenge for goaltender interference. Video review determined no goaltender interference infractions occurred before Evander Kane’s goal.

Edmonton went to score two more en route to a 7-4 victory. The Kings still hold a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven  series in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Officials for the game were referees Frederick L’Ecuyer (#17) and Dan O’Rourke (#9) with linespersons Davis Brisebois (#96) and Jesse Marquis (#86).