What Exactly Is Goaltender Interference? Capitals Goalie Charlie Lindgren Shares His Take, Cites Need For 'Black & White' Definition

The Capitals netminder cited the need for a clear-cut, "black and white" definition.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren hesitates as he's posed with a question he's never been presented with: from the perspective of a goalie, what exactly is goaltender interference in the NHL?

"That's a good question," he nods to himself.

It's one that the Capitals have been scratching their heads over, especially this season with regard to one player in particular: John Carlson.

Carlson has had three goals called back this season due to goaltender interference, with Nic Dowd, Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre's presence in the crease being the main factors in the respective strikes being called back.

"Right now, obviously what you see is pretty much any time the opposing team is in the blue paint. I think you're seeing that being followed as goalie interference," Lindgren said.

Is that the clear-cut definition, though? No, and Lindgren's not sold that it is, either.

So, what is goaltender interference?

In the NHL Rulebook, interference of the goalkeeper falls under Rule 69, and has a whopping eight parts. And, when it comes to being in the blue paint, it gets even more ambiguous.

"This rule is based on the premise that an attacking player’s position, whether inside or outside the crease, should not, by itself, determine whether a goal should be allowed or disallowed," the rulebook cites. "In other words, goals scored while attacking players are standing in the crease may, in appropriate circumstances be allowed. 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; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.

"...In exercising his judgment, the Referee should give more significant consideration to the degree and nature of the contact with the goalkeeper than to the exact location of the goalkeeper at the time of the contact."

In Carlson's case, 69.3 was cited the most, which states, "if an attacking player establishes a significant position within the goal crease, so as to obstruct the goalkeeper’s vision and impair his ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed."

For Lindgren, goaltender interference needs to have a "black and white definition," and he would summarize it as having the inability to do his job due to the other team.

"Really to me, goalie interference is any time the goalie is obstructed in any way, whether he's getting contact from the other team or if where he wants to go, the team's in the way," Lindgren said. "To me, that's what goalie interference is."

When it comes to the Capitals' three lost challenges, Lindgren hasn't necessarily seen his definition being applied by the officials or the situation room.

"I think so far, what we've seen this year is maybe actually a more liberal approach to what goalie interference is, which is pretty much, even if the guy's in the blue paint, it's goalie interference," Lindgren pointed out.

That being said, is it always going to be goaltender interference if there's a player in the crease at the time of the goal?

That's where Lindgren has an issue.

"It depends. I think sometimes someone could be in the blue paint and has no interference on the goalie at all. That's the thing. A lot of it depends. Is the goalie trying to get to the top of his paint? Or is he maybe playing a little bit deeper, where the guy in the blue, it doesn't affect the goalie at all?" Lindgren questioned. "Like to me, I think it depends on the situation."

According to Scouting The Refs, there were 87 coach's challenges for goaltender interference last season, with 40 of those decisions upheld and 47 overturned. 

The 30-year-old netminder noted that over time, goaltender interference has become a gray area; he's seen goals allowed where players have a significant presence in the crease without contact, and he's also seen goals allowed despite clear contact with the goaltender.

"I remember last year in a game against Columbus at home, I got spun around completely and they scored, and they called that a goal," Lindgren said.

Going forward, Lindgren said as a goaltender, it would help if there was more consistency and more of a rhyme and reason to the decisions being made.

"If it's more clear and more black and white, I think that's better for the game. Because it becomes less of a judgment call and more of a black and white answer, which is I think what we all need, is a consistent, black and white answer," Lindgren said.

"Right now, things seem to be 50/50, where it depends on what the refs feel and what he's thinking at that exact moment," he added. "It's one of those things where, if there's more concrete answers, on what it is, I think it's going to be a good thing... I think it would help the refs out a lot, because I feel like a lot of it is in their court and it's tough. it's the middle of the game, there's a lot of emotions, a lot of things happening. If we can take it out of their hands a little bit more and make it easier for them, I think that's a win for the game."