JETS STILL BAFFLED BY RULE
Controversial goalie-interference call had a hand in loss to Vegas, writes Ken Wiebe.
Paul Maurice hasn’t changed his opinion about the controversial go-ahead goal that saw James Neal break his stick across the mask of goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
But in his discussion with members of the media on Friday afternoon following the 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets mostly used humour instead of the anger and frustration that had been readily apparent the night before.
“There’s probably enough people talking about it, you don’t need me to,” Maurice said. “I don’t feel any different this morning than I did last night. I didn’t like the call. But game tomorrow, so off we go.”
The Jets (30-13-3) continue a 10-game homestand against the Colorado Avalanche (28-18-4) tonight at Bell MTS Place.
Maurice would have been happy to move on to another topic, but he was grilled about goalie interference for the majority of his availability Friday.
Did he speak to anyone at the NHL office about what took place?
“I don’t call them, they don’t call me. It’s a nice arrangement,” Maurice said. “I’m good with it.”
OK, so if Maurice didn’t speak with someone, would somebody else from the Jets organization have made a call?
“Only if their job description is worse than mine,” Maurice said.
After dealing with a few other topics, eventually the conversation circled back to goalie interference and whether that’s something Maurice speaks much with his players about.
“No, not really. The way it used to work, you look at your goaltender first. Because he’s the first guy that knows he got bumped,” Maurice said. “And then you watch the video and make your call on where you think it is. I think I missed one earlier in the year, in Game 2, based on the way I thought it was going to be called. I look at it, if I think there is (goaltender interference) I’m going to make the call. If I don’t, I won’t.
“I’m rarely confused when I make the call. I was very sure (Thursday) night. That would be the one I was probably the most sure of. And I was wrong. But I wasn’t confused when I made the call. After that, it’s really out of my hands.”
Following the game, both Jets captain Blake Wheeler and Hellebuyck expressed frustration at what goalie interference is and they were adamant the goal shouldn’t have been allowed.
Players simply want a clear definition of how the rule is going to be enforced.
“It’s a tough position to be in, obviously for the refs. I think there was a lot called throughout the first half of the year, and then they started trying to find out where that line is of what’s acceptable and what’s not,” said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey. “I mean, in my opinion you do have to protect the goalie, especially in a play where you’re getting a stick broken over your mask. That’s pretty dangerous. It’s a tough call, but it’s something where what we want is consistency as players. At the end of the day, you do need to protect those guys. Maybe a goal gets called off here and there for things like that, but I think you err on the side of protecting those goalies.
“It’s definitely been confusing, but at the same time as a player you can’t do anything about it. You just have to turn the page the next shift. Every team in the league at some point during the season feels like they got a call or two against them. That’s just the adversity you have to deal with in sports. Not every call is going to be perfect.”
Maurice isn’t expecting to have to deal with a similar situation any time soon.
“The idea the goaltender would operate comfortably in his crease I think was well-established,” Maurice said. “And the argument was, was there really goaltender interference there?
“The pendulum had swung so far. I’m going to assume last night was a one-off, that we won’t see that again. I don’t think they’re encouraging the pendulum to go to the other side where all swings are good when the puck is in the crease. I think they just missed it. They made a mistake. I don’t think you’ll see it again.”
There’s probably enough people talking about it, you don’t need me to. I don’t feel any different this morning then I did last night. I didn’t like the call.