The NHL is no stranger to controversial calls, but there seem to have been more than usual this postseason.
The most recent one came in Wednesday's Game 3 matchup of the Western Conference Finals between the Sharks and Blues, when San Jose secured a disputed 5-4 overtime win on a play could not be reviewed.
Sharks winger Timo Meier appeared to commit an obvious hand pass before Gustav Nyquist was able to set up Erik Karlsson for the winning goal. However, officials didn't whistle the play dead and counted the goal on the ice.
Sharks win Game 3 in OT despite clear hand pass before GWG pic.twitter.com/1qJZWL30E1
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 16, 2019
It's not the first time the Sharks have benefited from a call not being reviewable this year, either, as San Jose took advantage of a call in Game 7 of its first-round series against Las Vegas when the Golden Knights were given a five-minute major penalty against Cody Eakin for an illegal check to the head of Joe Pavelski.
Upon review, it was clear Eakin did not check Pavelski in the head. Still, the Sharks scored four goals on the power play and eventually won in overtime to advance to the next round.
Eakin drills Pavelski and Cap slams his head onto the ice. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/W0KWAwMLBo
— Teal Town USA (@TealTownUSA) April 24, 2019
Another decision that worked in San Jose's favor was when the Avalanche's game-tying goal was overturned in their Game 7 loss to Sharks in the second-round series.
Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog drew an offsides call upon review of the play, though the Avalanche argued the wrong call was made given there were too many men on the ice.
Avs game tying goal called back bc player was offsides heading to bench. Makes no sense. If he’s offsides then it’s a too many men on the ice penalty. He’s not in the play. https://t.co/SbbWmXBTk7
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) May 9, 2019
It hasn't been all about the Sharks, though. In Game 6 of the second-round series between Boston and Columbus, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy's received a one-game suspension for his blow to the head of Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson, though he only received a two-minute minor penalty for the hit during the matchup.
The Bruins killed off the penalty before getting two more goals to secure the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Hurricanes.
Charlie McAvoy gets two minutes for an illegal check to the head on Josh Anderson.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 7, 2019
Woah.
DOPS will also take a look at that. pic.twitter.com/nhuuiHGhXL
With the conference finals heating up, expect more controversy to come.