Controversial Overtime Clash
The outcome of Tuesday night’s overtime clash between the Nashville Predators and the Minnesota Wild remains a contentious point of debate, primarily due to a controversial goal awarded to the Wild. The incident unfolded when Minnesota’s forward Kirill Kaprizov attempted to make a pass to Marcus Johansson, but the Predators’ goalkeeper, Justus Annunen, inadvertently pushed the goal post out of position just before Johansson took his shot.
Although Johansson initially missed the target, he was able to retrieve the puck and subsequently backhanded it into the net as the goal was still askew. The referee deemed the shot a legitimate goal after reviewing the play at 3:38 into overtime, leading to a 3-2 victory for Minnesota.
Reactions to the Goal
This goal raised significant questions among the Predators, with head coach Andrew Brunette openly challenging the officiating decision.
“I disagree with his opinion,”
he stated, referring to the referee’s call. Similarly, Nashville’s Steven Stamkos voiced his discontent shortly after the game, noting the unusual nature of the play.
Stamkos critiqued the emphatic decision to award the goal, suggesting that the circumstances surrounding it were confusing. He explained that had Johansson not benefited from the net being dislodged, the puck would likely have entered a different trajectory—implying that the goal was unnatural.
NHL Ruling and Implications
The NHL Situation Room upheld the referee’s ruling based on Rule 63.7, which allows for a goal to be awarded if a goal post is displaced by a defending player before an imminent scoring opportunity arises. They concluded that Annunen’s action had caused the net to come undone before Johansson’s shot. According to the rule, for such a goal to count, it must also be determined that the puck would probably have gone in had the posts been in place. However, Stamkos reiterated his belief that Johansson’s opportunity was directly aided by the dislodging of the net.
Annunen’s mishap is described as accidental, with Brunette weighing in that it wasn’t intentional. He remarked on the physical dynamics involved, suggesting that a direct hit to the net would have resulted in a different outcome, indicating that the officiating crew’s perspective diverged from theirs.
Game Outcome and Team Reflections
Following this game, the Wild celebrated their second consecutive victory, adjusting their season record to 5-6-3, while the Predators fell to 5-6-4, marking their second successive overtime defeat.
“We deserved a lot better, for sure. It was one of our best games of the season,”
noted Stamkos, emphasizing the team’s efforts despite the outcome.
