Earlier during what is likely to be his third Vezina Trophy-winning season, Connor Hellebuyck pretty much gave up trying to figure out exactly what constitutes goaltender interference.
Winnipeg’s star goaltender has served on competition committees. He has given spiels and offered clips as exhibits to explain what should or should not be called. Still, he has remained baffled by what is and what isn’t interference — and he is not alone.
“I’ve really tried my best to help over the last four or five years,” Hellebuyck said after a goaltender interference challenge went against him and the Jets in a fall win. “I’ve tried to help. I’ve tried to make it more black and white.”
Just because your favorite NHL goaltender gets bumped, nudged, pushed, crashed into, goes down with injury or even loses their helmet when a goal is scored doesn’t mean it necessarily will be goaltender interference. Or sometimes it will be and not count after video review, like the New York Islanders having a potential game-winning goal against Columbus disallowed Monday night, much to coach and Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy’s dismay.
Goalie interference was a prime topic at the general managers’ spring meeting last week, with agreement on situation room decisions in 52 of the 54 video clips shown and plenty of what senior executive VP of hockey operations Colin Campbell called “colorful discussions.” Commissioner Gary Bettman said finding a consensus constituted a vote of confidence on behalf of GMs.
“All the debates about consistency and not understanding, the managers understand fully well,” Bettman said. “There was only one that was unanimous, which tells you that it is a judgment call and there’s going to be lots of opinions.”
What is goalie interference?
“I know what I think it is,” Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood said of interference. “But I don’t know that’s what it actually is.”
Director of officiating Stephen Walkom and other executives have told teams to be sure they have video evidence to overturn a call on the ice before making a coach’s challenge. Losing a challenge is a minor penalty.
“These aren’t black and white,” VP of hockey operations Kris King said. “There’s a lot of judgment, not only from the guy calling it in real time but also from us, as well, when we’re looking at these plays.”
It is spelled out under section 69.1 in the NHL rulebook:…