Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs made a desperation play after being caught out of the crease, throwing his stick towards the puck. He stopped the scoring chance but was whistled for a penalty shot.
With the Pens on the power play, Silovs left the goal crease to stop the puck along the boards. He attempted to play it away from a forechecking Kyle Connor, only to turn the puck over. The netminder lunged toward the crease, throwing his stick to try to break up the play.
Silovs – along with a backcheck from Kris Letang – prevented the puck from going in. He also picked up a penalty call.
The Pittsburgh goalkeeper was whistled for throwing the stick. More accurately, for throwing an object at the puck in the defensive zone. That’s Rule 53.7:
When any member of the defending team, including the Coach or any non-playing person, throws or shoots any part of a stick or any other object or piece of equipment at the puck or puck carrier in his defending zone, the Referee or Linesperson shall allow the play to be completed and if a goal is not scored, a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team.
This shot shall be taken by the player designated by the Referee as the player fouled.
Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor – the player whose scoring chance was foiled by the flying stick – scored on the penalty shot.
“I wasn’t sure what was going on,” Connor said of the play. “The open net was what was going through my mind. I didn’t know the rule, so I didn’t know if [the officials] were discussing whether it was a goal. I didn’t really expect a penalty shot. It was nice I got another shot at it.”
Had Silovs thrown his stick during the penalty shot attempt, it would have been an automatic goal, as we saw on a play a few years back between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. That’s covered under 24.2:
The goalkeeper may attempt to stop the shot in any manner except by throwing his stick or any object, or by deliberately dislodging the goal, in which case a goal shall be awarded.
The Winnipeg Jets went on to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Officials for the game were referees Jon McIsaac (#2) and Riley Brace (#49) with Dylan Blujus (#57) and Kiel Murchison (#79) on the lines.
