FSN Pittsburgh Producer Suspended For Failing To Provide Replay

FSN Pittsburgh has suspended producer Lowell MacDonald Jr. for "failing to provide NHL replay officials in Toronto all video footage of a disputed goal" scored by Flyers LW Simon Gagne during last Thursday's Flyers-Penguins game, according to Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW. Gagne scored the disputed goal, which was disallowed after a video review, in the second period of the Flyers' 7-4 win. The review "proved inconclusive, and on-ice officials in Pittsburgh ruled 'no goal.'" But moments later, FSN Pittsburgh "aired a replay provided by an overhead camera that clearly showed the puck crossing the goal line." The NHL replay officials "did not have access to that conclusive footage until after an official ruling had been made." FSN Pittsburgh in a statement said the net's "failure to provide video to the league officials in a timely fashion was wholly unacceptable." Rossi notes MacDonald was suspended indefinitely "as part of FSN Pittsburgh's investigation," which the NHL was "not directly involved in" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 1/13). However, in Philadelphia, Sam Carchidi reported the NHL Monday said that it was launching its own investigation into why FSN Pittsburgh "withheld from replay officials" the conclusive replay. NHL Senior VP/PR Gary Meagher said that the net "should have sent all of the replays, and that it does not have the right to pick and choose which replays it sends." Meagher: "At the heart of the matter is the integrity of the system" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/12). NHL officials yesterday said that "this sort of investigation is rare, but stressed that the league can take no action because FSN Pittsburgh works with the Penguins and not for the league" (PITTSBURGHLIVE.com, 1/12). The INQUIRER's Carchidi wrote the NHL "needs to hand out a stiff penalty, do it swiftly -- and end all suspicion that something fishy is happening with its flawed replay system" (PHILLY.com, 1/12).