Should the Blue Jackets' first goal by Artemi Panarin been disallowed?
First of all, it was a great play by Panarin and the Blue Jackets. There was confusion on a loose puck in the Bruins' zone and no one seemed to know where it was.
But Oliver Bjorkstrand realized the play was still live and that Panarin was on his own on the other side of the net.
The Blue Jackets' forward then put a shot past Tuukka Rask to cut the Bruins' lead to 2-1 and got Columbus some momentum after Boston appeared to be running away with the game early.
Artemi Panarin trims the @NHLBruins lead 2-1! 👀🥖#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/oDDK5tPrrr
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 3, 2019
But should that goal have counted at all?
Upon further review, we were able to see why the Bruins were confused where the puck was. It appeared to hit the netting above the glass and fall back into play, so Boston thought the play was dead.
The #CBJ catch a break here as the puck hits the net, but Panarin scores and it counts to cut the Bruins lead to 2-1: pic.twitter.com/46WKwz7OZq
— The Second Round Cannon (@cbjcannon) May 3, 2019
It wasn't blown dead, though, and the Blue Jackets were aware enough to take advantage and get a goal.
There was no review on the play and the action went on, but Boston players may get pretty upset if this game winds up going Columbus' way by one goal.
Update: Because the Bruins did not immediately question the play there was no review.
The rulebook states in instances like this: "For pucks that hit the spectator netting undetected by On-Ice Official, "immediately" shall mean the following: A) When the puck strikes the spectator netting and deflects directly into the goal off of any player; B) When the puck strikes the spectator netting and falls to the ice and is then directed into the goal by the player who retrieves the puck.… In both of the above scenarios, the NHL Situation Room must have definitive video evidence of the puck striking the netting in order to disallow the goal."
Puck off mesh? Here's the only way the Situation Room can get involved...key words..."DIRECTLY" and "IMMEDIATELY"#StanleyCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Xh3r7cZdE5
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) May 3, 2019
Another update: Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask did not realize the puck hit the back netting. He found out after the game though and his response to the incident was hilarious.
“If I saw it (in real time), then I would have probably slammed the stick and chased the refs," he said, via Sportsnet.
Tuukka Rask is glad he didn't see the puck hit the netting before Panarin's goal in real time: “If I saw it, then I would have probably slammed the stick and chased the refs."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 3, 2019
This is a goalie who has been known to drop his gloves and fight when he needs to. He might not be kidding.