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Home » Blog » NHL to Review Goalie Interferences in Situation Room

NHL to Review Goalie Interferences in Situation Room

Connor Lynch News NHL

NHL video reviews for goalie interferences via a coaches challenge could be reviewed in the situation room by next month. On-ice officials have made the decision since the coaches challenge was brought in in 2015.

The NHL situation room currently reviews goaltender interference only in the last minute of the third period and at any point in overtime.

The rule change was recommended by GMs after three days of debate at their annual meeting in Boca Raton, Florida. Pending approval by the NHL board of governors and the NHL/NHLPA competition committee, it could be implemented in time for the Stanley Cup playoffs in April.

The NHL will also add an Officiating Management Team member, which is composed of retired referees, to the situation room. The ex-referees expected to work in the situation room include NHL director of officiating Stephen Walkom. There is also Paul Devorski, Don Koharski, Bill McCreary, Mick McGeough, Rob Shick and Don VanMassenhoven.

 

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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stressed that decisions about goaltender interference are ‘ultimately a judgement call’

“While, since the adoption of the Coach’s Challenge, there have been relatively few controversial calls on goaltender interference — perhaps half a dozen of approximately 170 challenges this season — the objective is to be as close to perfect as possible.”

“The recommended change is intended to help resolve the rare cases in which the situation room and the referees might have different opinions of a particular play and is intended to produce more predictability for our players and coaches.”

 

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Bettman also explained that this rule change isn’t intended to penalise players and coaches more.

“Overall, the system works, but I think we’ve gotten to the point where everyone is overthinking reviews. The intention, particularly on goaltender interference, should be, ‘Did we miss something?’ It shouldn’t be, ‘Did you search for something to overturn a call?’

“The presumption should be that the call on the ice was good, unless you have a good reason to overturn it. You shouldn’t have to search to overturn it.”

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