Controversy emerged in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday night when a series-winning goal was disallowed. Afterward, comments made by former NHL player and current analyst Paul Bissonnette made the controversy even greater.
Leading 3-2 in their series against the Colorado Avalanche, the Dallas Stars appeared to put the series away with a goal from Mason Marchment. The goal, though, was called off due to goalie interference, with the officials ruling that Dallas’ Matt Duchene had kept Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev from playing his position. That seemed to be incorrect, as replays indicated that the contact between Duchene and Georgiev was initiated by Colorado’s Cale Makar.
Nevertheless, the ruling was upheld.
Mason Marchment appears to score the game and game-winning goal for the Stars against the Avalanche. But it’s called off due to goalkeeper interference.
The play is reviewed and the ruling is upheld. Game 6 continues. pic.twitter.com/pzvTbIQWn6
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 18, 2024
The two teams played the remainder of the first overtime without a goal, setting up double overtime. But before the puck dropped in double overtime, the NHL on TNT studio crew weighed in.
Henrik Lundqvist (a retired goalie) felt it was the right call while Anson Carter (a retired forward) disagreed. Bissonnette cast the tiebreaking vote.
To say the least, he did not agree with the ruling.
“In this sense, he like taps his stick. And then it’s clear that the bump from Makar is what throws everything off. So it’s basically friendly fire in this case, where I think that for sure should have counted. Obviously, with the ref waiving it off, they’re probably going upstairs. They’re saying, ‘Well, we’ve got to stick with the original call. So I don’t know if that ref’s got the DraftKings sportsbook going right now. But that was kind of a BS call.”
Paul Bissonnette did not agree with the would-be series-winning goal being called off.
“So I don’t know if that ref’s got the DraftKings sportsbook going right now. But that was kind of a BS call.” pic.twitter.com/h7nepFW3Ct
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 18, 2024
As it turned out, the disallowed goal only delayed the inevitable. Dallas won the game in overtime. Perhaps fittingly, the winning goal was scored by Duchene.
[Photo Credit: TNT]
