A wild 41-second span in the first period may have cost the Washington Capitals two standings points against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.
After a first-minute goal from Elias Pettersson, the Canucks pressed again, and during a net-front scramble, veteran defenseman Tyler Myers put them up 2-0. But that’s describing the goal simply to say the least.
During the chaotic sequence, Lindgren made a save on Filip Chytil, but was unable to freeze the puck. As Linus Karlsson crashed the net, Evander Kane checked Tom Wilson from behind near the crease. As Kane got up, he knocked the puck backward while also appearing to knock Lindgren’s goalie glove off his hand. Myers then fired the puck into the yawning net. Lindgren, incensed that the goal counted, got up and raised his arms (note his hand is missing the goalie glove) at officials, protesting the lack of a goaltender interference call.
At the bench, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery called a timeout and looked at replays while conferring with video coaches Brett Leonhardt and Emily Engel-Natzke behind the scenes. He ultimately decided to challenge the Canucks goal for goaltender interference, claiming Charlie Lindgren was unable to play his position.
“The way that we saw that is Chuckie puts his glove on the puck, and Kane’s stick basically pushes through his glove so that he can’t freeze it there,” head coach Spencer Carbery explained postgame. “We didn’t get an explanation, [but] that was the reason for the challenge.”
After a several-minute review, the Capitals ultimately lost the challenge, putting the Canucks on a power play. The Canucks converted to go up 3-0. The NHL’s situation room provided the following explanation for why Myers’ goal counted.
“Video review confirmed that no goaltender interference infractions occurred prior to Tyler Myers’ goal,” the statement reads. “According to rule 69.7: In a rebound situation, or where a goalkeeper and attacking player(s) are simultaneously attempting to play a loose puck, whether inside or outside the crease, incidental contact with the goalkeeper will be permitted, and any goal that is scored as a result thereof will be allowed.”
Lindgren declined to comment on the play postgame.
“I don’t even think that I’m going to respond to that,” Lindgren said. “People can make their own decisions on it.
“They score the second one, and then we challenge; they score on the penalty — I mean, it’s a domino effect at that point,” he added. “Extremely frustrating, maddening.”
Myers, the beneficiary of the call, specifically highlighted the play that Evander Kane made as to why he was able to score his 100th career NHL goal.
“I got lucky,” Myers said. “Kaner did a good job going to the net, puck popped out to me, and I was able to put it in. Always feels good to score and got a little lucky.”
The Capitals, despite a ferocious comeback attempt, ended up 4-3 losers after failing to get a second goal with Lindgren pulled for an extra attacker. The loss ended the Capitals’ four-game winning streak and left them with a 2-1 record on their current four-game homestand.
