One thing I like about the NBA is how they show some accountability & release postgame breakdowns of the officiating. The NHL has had at least a handful of inexcusable calls this postseason alone and they just continuously shrug them off while laughing it up in their damp lair
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 16, 2019
Last night, the world went berserk over what many fans–from both sides–believed was a hand pass by a San Jose Sharks player in the Western Conference Finals. The play was not ruled a hand pass by the officials and the Sharks won the game from the play in overtime against the St. Louis Blues.
There are *way* too many human mistakes right now. It’s shift by shift at this point. It’s bigger than video replay. https://t.co/KirwccgGMg
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) May 16, 2019
It appears the Shark-themed gentleman used his paw illicitly in the leadup to that goal, in the opinion of this observer.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) May 16, 2019
That’s a hand pass and it should be reviewable. The Sharks have gotten away with absolute murder these entire playoffs. Goal should not have counted. The city of San Jose already has the golden warriors to win all year I don’t get why the NHL is handing the sharks wins
— Big Heat (@DanyAllstar15) May 16, 2019
Well, maybe, the officials got the play right. I’m using my previous background here and playing devil’s advocate, and my client is Timo Meier. See Meier is accused of a hand pass that created the opportunity for the Sharks to win the game. But was it really a hand pass?
According to NHL Rule 79:
A player shall be permitted to stop or ‘bat’ a puck in the air with his open hand, or push it along the ice with his hand, and the play shall not be stopped unless, in the opinion of the on-ice officials, he has directed the puck to a teammate, or has allowed his team to gain an advantage, and subsequently possession and control of the puck is obtained by a player of the offending team, either directly or deflected off any player or official.
Yes, Meier did bat the puck in the air but mostly with his wrist than his hand. Did he direct the puck to a teammate? No, and that’s a resounding no. Therefore, the play should not have been stopped nor the goal reversed if the play would have been reviewable.
If we review the video below, we can see that Meier batted the puck in the vicinity of three St. Louis Blues players–Jay Bouwmeester (19), Brayden Schenn (10), and Vladimir Tarasenko (91)–who form a triangle around said puck. Further, it appears to bounce off the shin of Bouwmeester and the stick of Meier before Gus Nyquist passed the puck to Erik Karlsson who scored the overtime winner.
Video Credit: NBC Sports (NHL) via Deadspin
If Bouwmeester, Tarasenko or Schenn had taken advantage of the opportunity presented by Meier batting the puck, then this would not be a controversy. Those three Blues players overskated the puck and never had possession. Therefore, there was no reason for the play to be stopped.
That’s a good goal. The officials got this one right. It does suck for the St. Louis Blues, but sometimes the hockey gods just aren’t in your corner on some nights.
Sorry, but I kind of think that goal should count. It looked to me like Boumeester got a piece of it with his leg. Not much, but it seems to change angles.
— Mike Armstrong (@ArmstrongGN) May 16, 2019
Of course, I have no idea if that’s what the refs saw, and I kind of doubt it. #Sharks #Blues #NHL pic.twitter.com/uDF2W3K6c0