Paul Bissonnette expresses disagreement with goalie interference call on Game 6

The Dallas Stars’ thrilling Game 6 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the NHL playoffs on Friday was not without controversy.

In the first overtime period, Stars forward Mason Marchment appeared to have scored the game-winning goal. But the officials immediately waved it off due to goaltender interference by Matt Duchene.

On review, it was determined that Duchene, who was outside the crease, only made contact with Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev after being bumped by Colorado defenseman Cale Makar. Nevertheless, the league upheld the call on the ice, disallowing the goal and forcing the game to continue.

Former NHL player and current analyst Paul Bissonnette strongly disagreed with the decision. Speaking on TNT Sports, Bissonnette said:

“Obviously with the ref waving it off, they’re gonna probably gonna upstairs saying we gotta stick with the original call. So I don’t know if that ref’s got the DraftKings sportsbook going right now. But that was kind of a BS call.”

Despite the controversial call, Stars’ Matt Duchene scored the game-winner in double overtime, propelling Dallas to a 2-1 victory and a spot in the Western Conference Final.

Jamie Benn also scored for the Stars, while Jake Oettinger has made 29 saves. The Stars now await the winner of the Edmonton-Vancouver series, with the Canucks leading 3-2.

NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman agrees with Paul Bissonnette’s take on goalie interference call

Despite the official explanation from the NHL’s Situation Room, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman agreed witg Paul Bissonnette’s view that the goalie interference.

Friedman said:

“I thought it would be a goal.” He acknowledged his “post-season record hasn’t been great on these” judgment calls.

According to Friedman, the NHL’s Hockey Operations Situation Room upheld the call because:

“Duchene impaired Alexander Georgiev’s ability to play his position in the crease prior to the puck entering the Colorado net.”

Friedman cited Rule 69.1 in the league’s rulebook, which says that goals should be disallowed if:

“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.”

Friedman’s explanation suggests that the league officials believed Duchene’s presence in the crease, whether intentional or not, hindered Georgiev’s ability to make a save, warranting the goaltender interference call.

It’s worth noting that in the ongoing playoffs, the league appears to be favoring the initial call made on the ice. Five of six goaltender interference calls challenged this postseason have been upheld.