History Repeating

It’s always fun watching history repeat itself. Case No. 1: the goal through the side of the net that was allowed to count after a review in the USA vs. Finland game at the 2008 World Championships. Here’s the video:

Kevin Schultz from AOL Fanhouse comments and tries to say this is worse than NHL officiating:

OK, so the refs missed the call. Not so bad, right? Wrong. The kicker here is that the goal was reviewed and still wasn’t over turned. Seriously.

Let’s review:

1. The puck went through the side of the net.
2. The play was reviewed.
3. Video revealed that the puck really did go through the side of the net, which negates the goal.
4. The play was ruled a goal.

If that’s not the most illogical thing I’ve ever heard in regards to hockey then I don’t know what is. Congratulations IIHF referees, you’re worse than your NHL counterparts. And you, dear reader, thought that wasn’t possible!

Sadly, it is very possible, because it happened in an NHL game in 2000, when Philadelphia defeated Buffalo 2-1 in Game two of their playoff series. Philly’s first goal came off the stick of John LeClair, but the puck actually entered through a hole in the side of the net. I was in a hotel bar in Pennsylvania watching the look on Hasek’s face as he checked and re-checked his glove, thinking the puck had to have gone through his glove, because he had the net covered. Then there’s the scene of Sabres GM Darcy Regier storming the replay booth and furiously pointing at the replay monitors while the replay officials just shrugged their shoulders. Remember, at this point the NHL claimed they reviewed ALL goals thanks to another no-goal incident involving the Sabres just one year previous. So to sum up:

1. The puck went through the side of the net.
2. The play was reviewed.
3. Video revealed that the puck really did go through the side of the net, which negates the goal.
4. The play was ruled a goal.

All the IIHF officials have done is equal the incompetence of the NHL officials. But I’m sure they’ll keep trying. Here’s the video of the LeClair goal, thanks to our old friend Andrew: