The Avalanche were able to hang on to an 8-6 win on Tuesday night in Game 1 against the Oilers in the Western Conference Final. However, the main talking point of the game was not the lack of goaltending on display.
Cale Makar's goal late in the first period was all the buzz during and after the Colorado win. The Oilers had scored a goal with 23 seconds left in the opening frame to knot the score at 2-2, but just nine seconds later, the star defenseman for the Avs went in and ripped a shot past Mike Smith to give the Avs the lead back.
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At first glance, it appeared that Valeri Nichushkin was not onside, and Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft challenged the play for offsides. However, after review, the play was deemed to be onside and the call on the ice stood as a good goal.
IT'S CALE MAKAR. 🗣️🗣️🗣️#StanleyCup | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/HPd7MzuPCq
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 1, 2022
The angle that shows Makar didn’t touch puck inside zone until Nichushkin cleared. Broadcast angle played tricks on us. Yes he had control but that’s not the rule. Wasn’t offside #GoAvsGo #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/IvVMnqVIpO
— Drew Livingstone (@ProducerDrew_) June 1, 2022
It certainly changed the momentum a bit as the Avs went into the intermission ahead rather than allowing a late goal to spoil their lead. As the game went on, the goal did not seem to matter as Colorado built a 7-3 lead. However, by the third period, the lead was down to 7-6, with an empty-net goal sealing a close win for the Avs.
It was a close call, one that split the opinions of former players, officials, and media members alike.
Have to touch the puck inside the blueline to be offside. Makar looked offside but never touched puck or crossed in to o-zone until teammate cleared. Good goal.
— Mike Johnson (@mike_p_johnson) June 1, 2022
Makar pushes puck across the blueline with Nichuskin inside the offensive zone. But Makar doesn’t touch the puck and cross the blue line himself until Nichushkin exited, or tagged up. Easy call IMO. Not offside.
— Bobby Margarita (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 1, 2022
Makar is not touching the puck when inside the blue line. It gives Nichuskin time to tough up and nullify the offside. Correct call under rule 83.3 pic.twitter.com/iD6rhMje0e
— Tim Peel (@TimCPeel20) June 1, 2022
There’s a difference between standing on the blue line & not touching the puck while waiting for plyr to tag up & skating full speed with possession over the line & puck leaves stick at the time of tag up. This is a horrible call & should be offside. NHL changing rules on fly now
— Carlo Colaiacovo (@CarloColaiacovo) June 1, 2022
Alright I’ve watched it a handful more times, and heard Elliotte explain it, and reached my conclusion: that’s still offside. Let’s not galaxy brain this thing, that’s “control” for me by Makar, he has it, player isn’t out, offside.
— Justin Bourne (@jtbourne) June 1, 2022
It's fair to wonder: Had that goal been waived off, would the Oilers have completed the comeback?
What is the rule?
NHL rule 83.3 addresses
Plays that involve a puck entering the net as a direct result of a "distinct kicking motion" shall be ruled NO GOAL. A "distinct kicking motion," for purposes of Video Review, is one where the video makes clear that an attacking Player has deliberately propelled the puck with a kick of his foot or skate and the puck subsequently enters the net. A goal cannot be scored on a play where an attacking Player propels the puck with his skate into the net (even by means of a subsequent deflection off of another Player) using a "distinct kicking motion."
The league issued a short and sweet explanation:
It was determined that Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin legally tagged up at the blue line before Cale Makar entered the offensive zone with the puck on his stick. Makar made contact with the puck in the offensive zone after Nichushkin was in an on-side position.
While it may be a confusing ruling, it's one that the NHL has stuck by on a couple of other occasions.
A similar incident happened in 2020 with the Bruins and the Canucks. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy straddled the blue line and despite pushing the puck into the offensive zone, waited until teammate Sean Kuraly entered into the neutral zone before he touched the puck.
Charlie Coyle scored a few seconds later in the shift, and despite the Canucks' challenge of the play, it was upheld and ruled it was onside, therefore, a good goal.
