The NHL's goaltender interference review problem keeps on growing.
On Saturday afternoon, the Edmonton Oilers were on the wrong end of another overturned call during their 1-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.
After the game, Edmonton's goaltender Cam Talbot did not hold back his frustrations with the ruling.
“There’s no consistency and I’m f*****g sick of it. It’s f*****g ridiculous. You can quote me, they can fine me, I don’t give a f*** anymore.” — Oilers goalie Cam Talbot on the mystery that is goaltender interference in the NHL
— Rob Tychkowski (@Rob_Tychkowski) February 18, 2018
With the Coyotes leading 1-0 in the middle of the third period, Edmonton defenseman Oscar Klefbom fired a shot from the point that found its way through traffic in front and past Arizona goaltender Antti Raanta.
The original call on the ice was a good goal, but Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet challenged and the referee determined that Oilers forward Patrick Maroon interfered with Raanta before the puck crossed the goal line.
Talbot likened the play to a goal that he allowed Feb. 7 against the Los Angeles Kings. In the third period of that contest, Paul LaDue fired home a shot past Talbot's blocker side, which the Kings' forward Tanner Pearson had made contact with.
The 30-year-old goaltender immediately appealed to the referee for interference, but the play was initially ruled a good goal. Oilers coach Todd McLellan opted to use his challenge, but the referee stuck with his initial ruling, upholding the call on the ice.
"It’s extremely frustrating to have what seems like every single one of these calls go against us in the past two years," Talbot said Saturday. "It’s just unbelievable, I’ve never seen anything like it. We challenge a goal, it stands, they challenge a goal on us, for some reason it’s always waved off. I just don’t understand it."
Talbot isn't the only one.
Earlier this month, Blake Wheeler and Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets questioned a goaltender interference no-call that allowed Erik Haula's goal to stand in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. This all came after the topic of goaltender interference reviews was addressed during the NHL All-Star break by commissioner Gary Bettman.
While goaltender interference is a growing problem in the league, Talbot and the Oilers have plenty of other issues to address as well.
Edmonton (23-30-4) has now lost six straight games and is six points ahead of the Coyotes for the worst record in the NHL. The Oilers will look to snap their losing streak when they face the Avalanche on Sunday in Colorado.