Tag Archives: NHL

NHL hockey ops: Lehtera ‘was millimeters offside’

Hockey - sports in general - was always thought to be a game of inches. Until video review came along. Now we're dealing with the smallest units of measurement, when the stakes are at their highest.

The talk of the hockey world Saturday was Vladimir Tarasenko's go-ahead goal for the St. Louis Blues on Friday night, which was disallowed after it was ruled Jori Lehtera was offside. The goal would have made it 3-2 St. Louis. Instead, the Chicago Blackhawks rallied for a late goal of their own, which review upheld, and won the 3-2 to tie the series at 1-1.

New blue line cameras were used to determine Lehtera was, in fact, offside. Kay Whitmore, a former NHL goalie and now senior director of hockey operations for the league, said without those cameras, Tarasenko's goal counts.

"The blue line cameras situated right on the blue line gives you a true sight line of what's actually happening," Whitmore said, according to NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin. "Without those cameras, this would have been a tough call to make. You could probably say that the skate might have been in, but if there's any doubt on the ice, then the original call has to stand.

"To be honest, this was one of the closest ones we've had. You're looking at a puck - not just when it enters the zone. You're actually looking at when the skate comes off the ice and if it stays on the ice when the puck enters the zone."

Whitemore's next comments were the most telling. These calls - as close as it gets, unable to determine unless looking at slow-motion replay - were not why replay was instituted.

"I think the initial purpose of an offside challenge was to rid the game of egregious calls where a player is a foot or two offside, but you can't just do those ones," he said. "If it's offside, it's offside, and this one was millimeters offside.

"You just have to have as much technology as possible once you institute a rule like this. I think, like I said, there will be a debate probably for a long time (from) hockey purists about whether the intent of this rule was to take down goals like this, but maybe that's a discussion for another day.

"Did that skate in the air, does it have a real effect on what happened after that? You can argue that all day, but the rule is, it's always been, you have to have your skate on the ice crossing the blue line. Until there's a rule change, this is the way it's going to have to be."

It's hard enough to win the Stanley Cup. These questionable video reviews in what is one of the fastest games on the planet make it that much harder.

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Lundqvist will start Game 2, while Penguins’ Sullivan continues to play coy

The King is in.

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will start Game 2 on Saturday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Penguins, head coach Alain Vigneault announced.

Lundqvist was forced from Game 1 after the first period, after he took a high stick and suffered an eye injury.

"He's good to go," said Vigneault.

Lundqvist stopped 10 of 11 shots in the first period in Game 1, allowing a goal shortly after the incident, in which his defender's stick came through his mask and got him in the eye. He was replaced by Antti Raanta, who stopped 16 of 19 shots as the Rangers dropped the series opener 5-2.

While Vigneault was forthcoming about his starter, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan continues to play mind games, saying both Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury are game-time decisions.

"You will soon find out," Sullivan apparently said with a smile on his face during his media availability.

Fleury practiced ahead of Wednesday's Game 1, though eventual starter Jeff Zatkoff knew he was starting as of Tuesday night. It's that time of year, where teams try to gain any advantage they can.

Malkin, meanwhile, is reportedly no longer listed on injured reserve on the Penguins' website, so indications are he's going to be in the lineup.

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Lightning’s Brown out indefinitely with upper-body injury

Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown is out indefinitely after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 2 against the Detroit Red Wings, the team announced Saturday.

Brown exited Friday's game in the first period after blocking a shot, and didn't return.

The 25-year-old was playing on Tampa Bay's third line with Cedric Paquette and Ryan Callahan, and there's been no update on the specific nature of the injury, or who could replace him in the lineup.

Brown scored 22 points in 78 games this season.

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Panthers’ Trocheck skates, is ‘getting better’

Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck is on the mend, but whether he suits up in the first round still remains to be seen.

The 25-goal man took to the ice Saturday to test out his injured ankle, a positive step in his recovery, according to the Miami Herald's George Richards.

"He's getting better," said head coach Gerard Gallant.

Trocheck's with the club as it heads to Brooklyn, but whether the 22-year-old can play in Game 3 or Game 4 is up in the air.

The Pittsburgh native broke out in a big way in 2015-16, scoring 25 goals and adding 28 assists, both career highs. He played almost 18 minutes a game, had 13 power-play points, and contributed four game-winning goals. He finished fifth in team scoring, one of six Panthers to record 50 or more goals, in what was a very balanced attack.

The Panthers and Islanders split the first two games of their series.

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Seguin a game-time decision vs. Wild

Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin was ruled a game-time decision for Game 2 on Saturday night versus the Minnesota Wild, head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed earlier in the day.

Seguin skated Saturday morning, and said he feels good to go, but it's up to Ruff.

The 24-year-old missed Game 1, and hasn't played since March 17 due to an Achilles injury.

The Stars, however, fared well without Seguin in the series opener, taking down the Wild 4-0.

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Toews, Backes both frustrated with lengthy review

While Game 2 between the Chicago Blackhwaks and St. Louis Blues was thrilling, a lengthy stoppage in play had a huge role in the outcome.

With eight minutes remaining, it looked as though St. Louis had taken a 2-1 lead on a goal by Vladimir Tarasenko, but after a drawn-out review following a coach's challenge, the play was determined offside, reversing the call on the ice.

The change of fortunes took the air out of the Scottrade Center, and the arena fell silent minutes later after Andrew Shaw's goal - which was also challenged and reviewed - gave Chicago the lead. The Blackhawks ultimately prevailed 3-2 to tie the series.

The coach's challenge was introduced to the NHL this season, and although the right call was made Friday, neither captain was thrilled by the length of process.

"It's not easy," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune. "It definitely is frustrating for both teams to have to wait that long. If we're going to get the bounce we'll wait as long as we have to, I guess. There's no doubt that to a certain degree it takes a little bit away from the energy of the building."

He added, "It's been predicted and talked about that that might happen in the playoffs. We were the benefactors in that situation."

In the other ear of the referee awaiting a decision was Blues captain David Backes.

"It was a five- or six-minute review," Backes said. "It felt like forever. ...

"When it goes your way, you love it. When it doesn't go your way, it's the worst rule created. But it's one of those things where you want it called right. I don't know if they need the football (way) under the hood and a time limit and (if) they haven't had evidence after the time limit, you move on with life and you keep playing."

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Lightning leaning on Johnson in the playoffs once again

Spring must be Tyler Johnson's favorite time of year.

Scoring 23 points in 26 games, Johnson was instrumental during the Lightning's march to the Stanley Cup Final last postseason, and the Tampa Bay forward is off to a similar start a year later.

Johnson has six points in two games against the Detroit Red Wings, propelling Tampa Bay to a commanding 2-0 series lead, and his team has taken notice.

"You're learning that last year's playoffs were not a fluke," Lighting head coach Jon Cooper told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "Time and time again, playing in the big games, (Johnson) continues to rise to the occasion. Definitely glad he's on our bench."

Lightning forward Brian Boyle praised Johnson's performances as well.

"The kid has got a lot of heart. He's a huge part of our team and he's leading the way right now," he said.

Johnson's ability to step up in the absence of captain Steven Stamkos, especially after a disappointing regular season for himself, has been the difference in the series thus far.

"What we focus on the most is the playoffs," Johnson said. "That's what we play for, that's what we train for, that's the fun part of the year. It's been a frustrating year up to this point, but it's just getting ready for this."

Johnson scored just 38 points in 69 games this season, a year after notching a career-high 72.

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Cooper calls Game 2 brawl ‘mild’: ‘Imagine if it was the ’70s’

If you didn't peg the Detroit Red Wings or Tampa Bay Lighting as bitter rivals before the playoffs, the first two games of their first-round series have proved you wrong.

In the closing seconds of Game 2 on Friday night - a 5-2 Lightning victory - the teams engaged in a melee that would make the Hanson brothers proud, ultimately producing six 10-minute misconducts and a game misconduct.

Related: Watch: Abdelkader busts open Blunden with brutal ground-and-pound

The brawl was instigated by Red Wings forward Brad Richards, who slashed Lightning defenseman Andrej Sustr.

Detroit rookie Dylan Larkin had an understated assessment of the situation after the game.

"Both teams don't like each other very much," he told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. "Maybe we sent a message we're here to battle."

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper wasn't concerned by the ending.

"Just imagine if it was the '70s," Cooper said. "It's 2016. To me, I thought that was pretty mild. It's two teams that want to win a hockey game and guys are going at it. If there was anything wrong about it, I'm sure the league will look into it. It was a hard-fought hockey game and emotions got the best of both teams in the end."

Veteran Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall shared the same view as the opposing coach.

"There's a lot of emotions in the playoffs," Kronwall said. "Stuff like that happens."

Tampa Bay forward Mike Blunden, who said he required nine stitches after a vicious attack from Justin Abdelkader, shrugged it off.

"It's hockey," Blunden said. "We're in a battle. We're battling out there. Just part of the game."

After a chippy Game 1, Cooper said he'd expected both teams to cool off in Game 2.

"Clearly wrong," Cooper admitted, according to Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times.

Game 3 goes Sunday in Detroit. Buckle up.

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