What to make about the Islanders’ disallowed goal against Blue Jackets 

Not long after it was revealed that NHL general managers had a consensus agreement about the current description of what is goaltender interference, we have a controversial call regarding goaltender interference.

In the dying seconds of regulation between the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets, it looked as if Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri scored the go-ahead goal, which would’ve given the Isles a huge two points in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race.

However, it was waved off. It was determined that Palmieri made contact with Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, warranting the decision. A video review confirmed the call on the ice. Columbus went on to win the game in a shootout.

It has led to widespread discussion about what is or is not goaltender interference.

On Tuesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli explains the process of the decision that led to the Islanders losing.

Frank Seravalli: Last week at the GM meetings, we talked in depth about goalie interference and the video review. I entered the week with some significant confusion … On the other end of that trip, having watched the Situation Room guys explain it to media, and to understand the conversation of what went on with general managers in that meeting, where they reviewed 54 of their toughest challenges this year to set their compass straight … The answer on 52 of the 54 was a yes. So, that said, once you take that information and you understand it, it’s not really about what I think, or Patrick Roy thinks, the GMs have set the course here. So, they’ve turned the compass in the direction that they want it to be called. Fine, we get facts.

Then, I published a story last week. Guidelines, a checklist on what to expect during a goalie interference challenge, and I tweeted it again this morning, just for reference. It’s evergreen. Unless the rule or how they interpret it changes, it’s not changing. So, go to number two … which is, ‘Hey, anytime there’s a play where the referee signals no goal, waves it off before it’s reviewed for goalie interference, that means that he viewed it to be a deliberate collision between the attacking player and the goaltender while he was in his crease. That’s his view, obviously subjective. The NHL made it clear last week that once that is the call on the ice, there must be clear and convincing evidence to change that–which they almost never, ever overturn a no-goal call.

However, if you’re an Islander fan, it would be, or potentially could be different if the call on the ice was a goal and then it was challenged by Columbus for goalie interference, which in this case wouldn’t have happened because it was under two minutes in play, and it’s a situation room review anyway. Nonetheless, a totally different set of circumstances. Once it’s no goal, once it’s waved off, it’s almost never coming back, so get used to it.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…