Lightning the Victims of Brutal No-Goal Call

The Lightning had a goal taken away on a controversial call from the refs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are playing a crucial Game 5. A loss to the Panthers would end their season, and they are working hard not to let that happen. 

In the second period, Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev scored a goal that would have tied the game up at 2-2. However, his goal was called off because Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli was claimed to have interfered with Sergei Bobrovsky. 

The Lightning challenged the no-goal call, but, unfortunately, the call on the ice stood. This was certainly the wrong call, as Cirelli made minimal contact at most with Bobrovsky, and he did not impair the star goaltender from stopping the puck. However, the refs and the league did not feel that way. 

The NHL provided an explanation for the no-goal call: "Video review confirmed Tampa Bay's Anthony Cirelli made incidental contact with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky which impaired his ability to play his position prior to the goal. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1, which states in part, 'Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper's ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal."

This is a brutal call against the Lightning, especially when noting that Cirelli did nothing significant to prohibit Bobrovsky from making the save.