Sometimes, replay reviews work just right

Ron Cook

Sports fans are falling off, one by one, left and right. Before long, I fear I will be the last man standing. I still like replay. For many, it took another hit Sunday night during the Flyers-Penguins game. For the first time since it came to the NHL 28 years ago, there was a double coach’s challenge on the same play. I found it fascinating. A lot more than the game, actually. The Penguins lost, 2-1, when the Flyers’ Sean Couturier blew by Sidney Crosby and beat Matt Murray with a wrist shot with 3.4 seconds left in overtime. The Flyers had tied the score on a James van Riemsdyk goal with 18.8 seconds left in regulation. The Penguins lost a brutal point. The real star for Philadelphia was young goaltender Carter Hart, 20, who made 41 saves, many spectacularly. It looks like the Flyers might have found the goalie they’ve been searching for since — when? — the days of Bernie Parent?

But back to replay on its historic night.

It kept my interest, if only to see if it could save the game officials from

themselves.

I am happy to report it did. It worked the way replay is supposed to work — quickly and efficiently.

The play in question started early in the second period when the Flyers’ Claude Giroux appeared to score a goal through Murray’s legs. The officials huddled for a few seconds before ruling no goal, citing goaltender interference on Jakub Voracek. The big crowd at PPG Paints Arena loved it.

Flyers coach Scott Gordon immediately challenged the call.

Again, referees Dan O’Rourke and Pierre Lambert huddled, this time via phone with the replay folks in Toronto. In less than a minute, the call was a good goal by Giroux. The crowd booed.

Mike Sullivan immediately challenged that call, saying the play should have been blown dead because of offside on the Flyers.

“We knew it was [offside],” Sullivan said.

One more time O’Rourke and Lambert made a call to Toronto. Just as quickly, it was determined that Sullivan was right, that Voracek was indeed offside, beating teammate van Riemsdyk and the puck into the Penguins’ zone. No goal was the verdict. The crowd roared.

I had two thoughts: One, Sullivan and the Penguins know how to use replay to their advantage. Team video coordinator Andy Saucier seldom misses anything or his wrong and is trusted completely by Sullivan. Mike Tomlin, are you paying attention? If I’m the Steelers, I’m hiring Saucier and doubling his salary.

And two, it was a tough night for O’Rourke and Lambert, but a terrific night for the NHL replay system.

“Yeah, I like it,” Sullivan said. “The intent is to try and get the calls right. Refereeing in this league is a difficult job because things happen so fast. The intent is to try to get the call right, so I do think it’s beneficial.”

I just wish replay worked as well in every sport.

It really doesn’t have to take forever to make a decision, at least not to the point that fans at the game or watching on television are bored to death. If the replay officials can’t make their call quickly, stay with the call on the ice or the field. This doesn’t have to be rocket science.

I’m a big fan of getting calls right. That’s why I’m hoping the NFL adds even more to what is reviewable in its game. A missed false start penalty by Chargers tackle Sam Tevi might have cost the Steelers a playoff spot last season. A missed pass interference call/helmet-to-helmet hit by Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman definitely cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl.

Why not correct those awful blunders with replay?

It’s not as if the technology isn’t available.

That’s why replay is here to stay in all sports.

I’m glad about that even if I might be alone.