Adding Coach’s Challenge To Video Review Was A Huge Step For NHL
Nov 19, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; The ref calls off the goal by Florida Panthers forward Jimmy Hayes (12) after goalie interference is called by Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen (36) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
In March 2015, the general managers of the National Hockey League met in Boca Raton, Florida to discuss potential changes to the game of hockey. At this annual meeting, the idea of a coach’s challenge was proposed—and that idea was recommended to the NHL and NHL Players Association competition committee. After their June meeting, the NHL and NHLPA announced in this joint statement:
The Committee recommends that a Coach’s Challenge be adopted for expanded video review for goals that may have resulted from (1) goaltender interference and (2) offside plays. The video review process and all decisions on goals where goaltender interference may have occurred will be the responsibility of the Referees at ice level, in consultation with the NHL’s Situation Room in Toronto; similarly, goals that may have resulted from an offside play will be reviewed and determined by the on-ice officials, in consultation with the NHL’s Situation Room in Toronto. In order for a coach to make a challenge, the team must have its timeout available.
The coach’s challenge adopted is similar to that in the NFL, which involves a coach requesting that officials review a call (or lack of a call) on the field. There are only a few instances in which the coach will be able to challenge the official: goals resulting from goaltender interference, offsides goals, and puck deflections out of play that would result in a “delay of game” penalty. Unsuccessful challenges would result in the team losing their only time-out of the game, while successful challenges would allow the team to retain the timeout.
In the case of goal-related challenges, specifically goaltender interference calls, challenges can be used on no-goal calls as well as to overturn goals. The American Hockey League (AHL), the minor league affiliate of the NHL, is also implementing a coach’s challenge to expand video review like the NHL.
General manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jarmo Kekalainen, discussed the expansion of the technology involved in the new coach’s challenge. “There’s going to be judgmental decisions and calls made and we’re never going to agree 100 percent on those, but it’s going to give us a chance to get better calls and use the technology that’s out there to help us. So I think it’s a big improvement as well.”
The NHL made a statement about adding video reviews (through a Coach’s Challenge) for offsides goals in order to explain this occurrence:
Goals will only be reviewed for a potential “Off-Side” infraction if: (a) the puck does not come out of the attacking zone again; or (b) all members of the attacking team do not clear the attacking zone again, between the time of the “Off-Side” play and the time the goal is scored. … In the event a goal is reversed due to the Linesman determining that the play was “Off-Side” prior to the goal being scored, the clock (including penalty time clocks, if applicable) will be re-set to the time at which the play should have been stopped for the “Off-Side” infraction.
The NHL’s rule 83.1 defines the parameters of an offsides call: “Players of the attacking team must not precede the puck into the attacking zone.”
Offsides goals have occurred throughout the history of the NHL due to the human element of the game. The linesmen have mistakenly called offsides and have outright missed calls, but those are often overlooked—unless that error leads to a goal.
Though offsides goals may not necessarily be a game changer, NHL goals often create a momentum swing that can transform a game. Regardless of an offsides goal being meaningful to the outcome of a particular game, at this level and with this technology available, accuracy is not just expected, but demanded of the game—especially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Unfortunately, in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, an offsides goal had major implications. In Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Tampa Bay Lightning faced off against the Montreal Canadiens. In the first sudden-death overtime Nikita Kucherov scored, but the goal was correctly reversed. Then, in the next (second) overtime, Kucherov scored to win the game—on a seemingly illegal goal.
Before Tampa Bay forward Brian Boyle sent the puck into the offensive zone, teammate Valterri Filppula entered the zone, which should have rendered the play offsides. Since the official missed the call, Kucherov was able to score off of the play and won Game 1 for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, every goal is crucial. But a sudden-death overtime goal is absolutely vital. Not only did Tampa Bay essentially take Montreal’s home-ice advantage by winning Game 1, but the Lightning set the tone of the series with that first win, all because of the allowance of an illegal goal. Even though Montreal lost the series in six games, and one game is not as determinative as it could have been if the series went the full seven games, any and all playoff wins are momentous. In the playoffs, particularly in overtime, that one goal is more significant than ever.
While a Coach’s Challenge can assist a team seeking a more accurate account of a goal, it also allows the officials a chance to redeem themselves if they in fact incorrectly called a play. And although it may add a few minutes to games, it will ensure accuracy—which should be the ultimate goal.
