Team Finland challenged Canada’s game-winning goal in Friday’s Olympic semi-final matchup. They lost the challenge and the game. They also challenged the wrong goal.

Was Canada’s Game-Winner Offside?

It’s nearly impossible to say without a doubt whether Canada’s Macklin Celebrini was offside prior to Nathan MacKinnon’s game-winning goal with 35.2 seconds remaining.  There was no initial offside call on the ice from linespersons Albert Ankerstjerne of Denmark and American NHLer Ryan Daisy.   

With no automatic coach’s challenge in the final minute like in the NHL, it was up to Finnish head coach Antti Pennanen to decide to challenge the play. Also unlike the NHL, there’s no centralized Situation Room to review the play; it’s up to the on-ice officials – in this case, Ankerstjerne and Daisy. 

Celebrini, well aware of the play, dragged his trailing right skate to remain onside as Canada moved the puck into the attacking zone. Three other Canadian players were stacked up on the blueline, making it difficult to discern the position of Celebrini’s skate at the precise moment the puck cleared the line.

In order to overturn the call and disallow the goal, the IIHF (like the NHL) requires conclusive evidence. Pennanen hoped they’d find some.  They did not.  The goal stood.  The failed challenge meant that Finland would be short-handed for the remainder of regulation.

 

Missed Opportunity?

Finland should have challenged Canada’s game-tying goal, when She Theodore knotted the game at 2-2.

Canada’s Brad Marchand makes contact with goaltender Juuse Saros in the blue paint, clearly impacting his ability to play his position. There was contact from defenseman Erik Haula just prior, but Marchand’s path was taking him into the goal crease either way. 

Head coach Jon Cooper was confident the goal would stand.

“I had no question that call was going to be made the way it was,” Cooper said after the game.

This may have been a toss-up in the NHL, but under the stricter IIHF standards, there’s a decent chance the goal gets overturned. Finland wasn’t willing to risk it.  They should have.

 

 

Canada defeated Finland 3-2 to advance to Sunday’s Olympic Gold Medal game against the United States.  Officials for the game were Eric Furlatt #27 (Canada/NHL) and Dan O’Rourke #9 (Canada/NHL) with linespersons Albert Ankerstjerne #98 (Denmark) and Ryan Daisy #81 (USA/NHL)