Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider had his potential game-tying goal disallowed for what the NHL Situation Room deemed a ‘distinct kicking motion.’
Down 2-1 in the second period of Friday’s game, a shot from Alex DeBrincat is stopped by Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, with the rebound going right to Seider. He deflects the pick with his skate and swipes at it before it crosses the goal line.
Referee Wes McCauley signaled a goal on the ice. The NHL, though, wanted to take a second look.
After review, the NHL’s Situation Room handed down the ruling:
Video review determined that Detroit’s Moritz Seider kicked the puck into the Anaheim net.
According to Rule 49.2, “A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who uses a distinct kicking motion to propel the puck into the net with his skate/foot.”
I’ll be honest. I’m not seeing it.
Let’s start at the end. Seider attempts to tap the puck in with his stick but misses. Had he made contact, that would’ve negated any issues with a possible kick on the play. With no stick contact, we need to go back to his skate.
Seider clearly deflects the puck with his skate, which is legal — even if intentional. Here’s Rule 37.4:
A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking Player’s skate who does not use a “distinct kicking motion” shall be ruled a GOAL.
A puck that is directed into the net by an attacking Players’ skate shall also be ruled a GOAL, as long as no “distinct kicking motion” is evident.
For comparison, this goal from Matthew Tkachuk was allowed to stand after an intentional skate deflection. So was this Filip Forsberg goal. And this one, which clearly appears to show skate movement, courtesy of Golden Knights’ Chandler Stephenson. Same with this one from Chris Kreider.
All four goals ruled as legal by the NHL’s Situation Room. But not Seider’s.
Seider’s marker would have tied the game at 2-2. Instead, the score remained 2-1, with Anaheim’s Mason McTavish scoring minutes later to put the Ducks up 3-1.
The Anaheim Ducks ultimately defeated the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 5-2. Refs for the game were Wes McCauley (#4) and Corey Syvret (#24); linespersons were Caleb Apperson (#77) and David Brisebois (#96).
