Rangers Winning Divisional Games Despite Suspect Officiating
The New York Rangers won their last two games against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the New Jersey Devils, and questionable officiating.
Last Sunday, Will Cuylle shot a puck on the net that sat atop Elvis Merzlikins's pad, beyond the goal line. After an agonizing review, the play was determined a no-goal. Here is the clip from Jonny Lazarus, courtesy of MSG Network.
Then, Ryan Lindgren took a high hit from Sean Kuraly that was lowered from a 5-minute to a 2-minute powerplay. He had to leave the game and did not return until the team's practice on Wednesday.
Against New Jersey, Jack Hughes shot a puck on the net that Igor Shesterkin got a piece of. The officials blew the whistle, but the puck trickled over the goal line. The goal horn went off, but the official at the goal line signaled the play dead. In a short and not well-described review, the goal was deemed good.
Lindgren was on the wrong end of another high hit from Michael McLeod, deemed a 5-minute major. In another momentary review, the penalty was completely reduced.
For Will Cuylle a 10-minute review resulted in a no-goal, although multiple camera angles show the black puck sitting on Merzlikin's pad over the line. For Hughes, a waved-off no goal was overturned in seconds.
Concussion health is concern enough for a player like Igor Shesterkin to be pulled from the net during a game. Why does head contact hits to Ryan Lindgren not warrant a foul? What criteria reduced the two major penalties?
Jimmy Vesey commented on the matter, "It's just nothing you can do to change that tonight. I've never seen some of those calls but it is what it is and we just put our head down and kept going."
Following the game in New Jersey, Laviolette agreed with the overturned goal call, "I mean that's the rules in all honesty I just ask myself if you flip the situation around how would you want it to play out and I think they got it right." He did not comment on the hit to Lindgren.
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The Rangers employ a defender that toes the line with massive hits in Jacob Trouba. In Saturday's match, the team captain took advantage of Tomas Nosek who put himself in a vulnerable position. The point of contact in both blows to Lindgren was his head. There is a difference.
On November 17th, the Anaheim Ducks also faced a similar no-goal call against the Florida Panthers. The current wave of iPad judgment calls is not just a Ranger problem.
The Rangers aren't folding due to controversial officiating, having the last laugh in back-to-back games no matter what comes their way.
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