Wild’s controversial overtime goal could force goaltenders to be more careful
One of the weirder overtime-winning goals in recent NHL memory was scored last night, and it quickly set the internet ablaze.
After Nashville Predators goalie Justus Annunen knocked the net off its moorings during a chance for the Minnesota Wild, he and defenseman Brady Skjei let up in anticipation of a whistle. Instead, the referees allowed play to go on as they deemed the dislodging to be intentional.
A TRULY WILD ENDING! 😱
Marcus Johansson secures the Subway Canada OT winner for Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/By1CCyVZc2
Minnesota forward Marcus Johansson picked up the loose puck and lifted a backhander through the crease where the net would have been, and the officials counted it. Predators coach Andrew Brunette was incensed, but the play stood, and the Wild took home the win.
#Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette on the final play: "The explanation was, in [the referee's] opinion, it was a goal. I disagree with his opinion, but that's the way it is."
Brunette on if he felt Justus Annunen intentionally knocked the net off: "No, I don't think just by the…
On Wednesday’s episode of Morning Cuppa Hockey, host Jonny Lazarus and co-host and former NHL defenseman Colby Cohen were joined by SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman to discuss the controversy and the effect it could have on goaltenders around the league.
Colby Cohen: “It was called perfectly based on the rule. Like imminent, the word imminent, that’s the word we circled around. I thought they got it exactly right. We read the rule out. And what do you think, Elliotte?”
Elliotte Friedman: “If I was Nashville, I would be pissed. Like I would be really pissed. I get that… If that’s gonna make goalies say, or teams go to their goalies and say, ‘Don’t push the net off, because this is gonna be the result,’ I’ll take it. Now, the one thing though, Colby, about the rule is – and there’s two different ones you can look at here. One’s 25.2, (67.3 is the other)- 67-3 is what we read… it says there is that the player would have scored, right? And the argument that the Predators make is that he wouldn’t have scored. Now, what if Game 7 ends (like this) in the Stanley Cup final? How would you feel? I don’t think anybody likes that.”
Colby Cohen: “No, not good. Let me just ask you then quickly, did you feel like Annunen… did you feel it was on purpose that he knocked that net off?”
Elliotte Friedman: “I remember having a conversation with a goalie once who always told me, if you bring this up in conversation, that they remain nameless. I said, no problem. And he said to me, he would do a little smile and a wink, ‘We know what we’re doing.”
Colby Cohen: “That makes me feel even better than because I wasn’t convinced that was even on purpose.”
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode below…