Martin St-Louis receives the NHL’s explanation for the overtime non-call — and it raises eyebrows
Martin St-Louis finally received the official explanation regarding the controversial overtime play, and the response is likely to raise some eyebrows among fans.
According to the details obtained after the game, the officials justified their silence by invoking the concept of accidental contact on the sequence.
They told the coach that the rulebook protects that type of collision if it isn’t deemed intentional.
Excuse me?
That’s an interpretation that’s hard to swallow when you watch the replay in slow motion this morning.
Joel Eriksson Ek nonetheless appeared fully aware of Nick Suzuki’s path at the defensive blue line.
The argument given to the Canadiens’ bench was that the contact, being accidental in their view, didn’t warrant a penalty.
You have to admit this gray area leaves far too much room for interpretation...
Nick Suzuki, however, had a very different read just minutes after the game in the visitors’ locker room.
He described it as a “pick,” a term that implies a deliberate action to block a moving opponent’s path.
A bitter pill to swallow for Martin St-Louis and the Montreal Canadiens
At 3-on-3, the slightest obstruction instantly changes the flow of play and creates scoring chances.
We saw it clearly last night...
You can debate at length the Wild player’s true intent on that decisive sequence for Minnesota.
The referees made their call in real time, and their ruling of accidental contact is final, regardless of the bench’s anger.
That’s what they told Martin St-Louis...
The Canadiens will have to move on, but that justification will likely stick in the coaching staff’s throat today.
Accidentally on purpose
Indeed, however, the rulebook also states that if the contact is accidental — which is the case here — there is no penalty on the play.
Indeed, however, the rulebook also states that if the contact is accidental — which is the case here — there is no penalty on the play.
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