Classic Posts: The Finnish Goal That Was Not!

I still remember this one from May of 2008 like it was yesterday. Dan took on the idiotic missed call of a goal that clearly went in via the side of the net. Let her rip son!



As a hockey enthusiast, I expect a quality game each time I watch a highlight, and I most certainly should anticipate the highest quality results when the clock stops to go upstairs for review. This year has proved to me that there are major holes not only in the NHL, but worldwide when regarding the quality of feedback during the goal review process, and two recent experiences only act to balloon this opinion.

Yesterday, during the United States vs. Finland game, Finland scored what appeared to be a nice one-timer goal. When the play went to review, fans were given the opportunity to watch the replay, and it clearly showed the puck sneak underneath or through the side of the net. Now, we are not talking inches, we are talking almost half a foot wide of the post and through. How this could have possibly been credited a goal by the officials 'upstairs' absolutely boggles my mind as an avid viewer of the game.

The second poor review came as recent as the Montreal vs. Philadelphia series in round two of the playoffs. In a pivotal time of the game, Montreal scored a goal on a blatant high stick (and by blatant, I mean his stick was literally inches from the crossbar as he batted the puck into the net) and after review, the goal was credited. While this goal did not effect the series, it most certainly affected the Flyer players mentality towards that particular game, and could have been a serious blow to their confidence with a Montreal win.

In the case of the United States, they went on to lose the game 3-2 to Finland, which puts their record at 2-2-0-0 for the tournament. While they still have an opportunity to remain in contention, anymore wins by certain teams, and any more losses by them will cost them their tournament lives, and send them home with absolutely nothing. Consider this goal the proverbial nail in the coffin for the United States squad at this years World Championships.

These examples are prime when considering how badly a poor officiating call can change the pace of a game. This type of mistake should simply not happen. Human error from a referee's standpoint is marginally acceptable, but when a panel of viewers can not get a decision correct based on blatant visual evidence (not to mention the ability to PAUSE the replay at the exact moment either the puck crosses the line or the stick hits the puck above the crossbar), you have to think that something needs to change once again.

I wonder if any of the United States Hockey Organization is actually forcing this foolishness to a review by tournament officials. I have to think they are not going to sit back and accept the brutal decision made by the off-ice officials, and by the look on Tortorella's face during the game, and his comments which were "Not a mistake, blindness" and "a joke" after the game, I have to think they are not going to simply sit on it.