As soon as it was revealed that Wes McCauley would be one of the referees in the 2018 All-Star Game, hockey fans hoped that there would be a goal review so the dramatic official could show off his mic skills.
They got their wish.
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WES McCAULEY 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/dG4l6UkFKI
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) January 28, 2018
In the second period of the Metro-Atlantic Division game, Barry Trotz demanded a goal review after Erik Karlsson scored to put the Atlantic Division All-Stars up 5-4.
Except there was one problem: a changing Nikita Kucherov was offside because he hadn’t finished getting off the ice.
McCauley ruled no goal.
Trotz was very happy about winning the challenge.
Karlsson threw his gloves in the air in exasperation.
Undaunted, the Atlantic Division All-Stars scored on the very next shift after a wide open Jack Eichel rifled a puck past Braden Holtby.
Eichel pointed at the net to signal a good goal like Auston Matthews did in a real life game a week earlier. Matthews, on the same line, did the same thing.
What a moment.
Just pop it in a frame right now [Getty] pic.twitter.com/2bPE1YYbBp
— Sean Leahy (@Sean_Leahy) January 28, 2018
Wes McCauley, you’re the real MVP.
Relive his best moments here.
8 PM update: When speaking with the media, Trotz revealed that the league initiated the challenge.
“No. The league has that,” Trotz said, smiling. “It was good. It’s part of the game. I thought it rallied the other team, I thought.”
#Caps head coach Barry Trotz talks to the media after the 2018 NHL All-Star Game in Tampa, Fl. #CapsAllStars #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/hMeNK5BDnQ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 29, 2018
