Thursday night’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final was not the first time a rare NHL rule reared its head during this spring’s playoffs.
First, it was the Buffalo Sabres that were denied a crucial Game 7 goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the playoffs. Then on Thursday, the Golden Knights dealt with a similar situation themselves while in a 2-2 tie with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Late in the third period, the Hurricanes rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the Golden Knights. As the two teams went back and forth, the Golden Knights got a great chance to score but were denied by a flurry of saves from Frederik Andersen. However, in the scramble in the crease, the puck was knocked free and went into the net, but the play was blown dead by the officials.
Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella challenged the call for Vegas, but the officials ruled that the call of no-goal stood on the ice.
The Golden Knights then went on a penalty kill for the failed challenge and even gave up a game-leading goal to the Hurricanes in the process. While Vegas would get the goal back and send the game into overtime, many hockey fans were incredibly confused as to why the goal was waved off even if it went into the net before the whistle. This is thanks to the NHL rulebook allowing for a “human factor” to game supervision. From the NHL rulebook, here’s Rule 31.2 that this situation covers:
As there is a human factor involved in blowing the whistle to stop play, the Referee may deem the play to be stopped slightly prior to the whistle actually being blown. The fact that the puck may come loose or cross the goal line prior to the sound of the whistle has no bearing if the Referee has ruled that the play had been stopped prior to this happening.
The Golden Knights were able to get that goal back in the end, but this rare NHL rule was the cause of the no-goal call at the end of the third period.
After the game, the officials explained that goaltender interference also factored into the no-goal call.
Who is leading the 2026 Stanley Cup Final?
After Game 2, the Golden Knights and Hurricanes are tied 1-1 in the Stanley Cup Final.
When did the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup Final?
The Golden Knights have one Stanley Cup in franchise history, which they won in 2023 over the Florida Panthers.
