Montreal Canadiens: Refs Blow Goaltender Interference Call on Price

During the Montreal Canadiens game against the New York Rangers, the Referees made one of the worst calls of all time.

Ridiculous, stupid, and confusing is what Referees did to the Montreal Canadiens. During the second period of the game the New York rangers scored what appeared to be an obvious no goal. It was crystal clear that Goaltender Carey Price was interfered with, and it was impossible for him to make the save.

Rangers Forward Kevin Hayes was coming in on a breakaway and attempted to dangle around Price. However, Price made the spectacular save, but than Hayes accidentally interfered with Price. Hayes foot got caught between Carey’s knee and his pad.

The result was Hayes dragging Price right out of his net, and in fact Hayes dragged Price right behind the red line. The Refs remarkably called this a goal on the ice, even though it was obviously interference. Hayes clearly interfered with Price’s ability to make the save.

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Head Coach Michel Therrien wisely challenged the play, and the Refs had to review it. After repeated views of the play, one thing stood out, and that was Carey Price was interfered with, and couldn’t make the save.

The Refs reviewed the play, and than somehow  came to the conclusion that the goal should be allowed. That call is an absolute joke, and doesn’t make any sense at all.

Hayes clearly made incidental contact, and he didn’t mean to pull Price out of the goal. However, that’s not the rule, in the NHL rule book. Here is what rule 69.1 says in the NHL Rulebook:

Goals should be disallowed only if an attackingplayer, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’sability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal

Obviously, Price was impaired in his ability to make the save.

What makes this horrible call even more frustrating, is the fact that the Canadiens had a goal called back for Goaltender Interference. Forward Andrew Shaw fell into the Rangers Goalie, and than Phillip Danault popped in a loose puck. However, the goal was called back for Goaltender Interference.

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The Refs obviously knew the rule, but chose not to apply it to the Rangers. This was sickening, and an absolutely absurd call the officials.