It's official: No one understands goaltender interference.
The NHL's general managers met earlier this week in Boca Raton, Fla., with a primary mandate of figuring out what currently constitutes goaltender interference. And amid all kinds of denials that there was any problem in the first place -- if so, why discuss or debate it? -- they finally resolved to ... do nothing. They basically decided that Colin Campbell, one of the league's most Mesozoic figures, and four other permanent relics in the Toronto replay room would simply take more control.
The reasoning: The refs can't figure it out, so at least this way there will be fewer people trying to figure it out.
This was Evgeni Malkin's 41st goal, midway through the first period:
Based on every precedent that's been put forth all season, that's goaltender interference. Malkin slides into a fallen Price before the puck crosses the goal line and, thus, affects his ability to make a save. Never mind that Malkin wasn't pushed, as intent is never weighed anymore. Never mind whether Price had a prayer at the puck, as that's never weighed, either.
The referee on the scene, Ian Walsh, made no signal regarding goaltender interference and, per the Boca Raton edict, passed the buck to the Toronto crew after Claude Julien used his coach's challenge. The ruling came back that the goal was good.
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