Abdelkader scores OT winner with broken stick
Justin Abdelkader’s broken-stick game-winning goal probably should not have counted (NBC)
Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader has always been a player that goes to the hard areas of the ice. That’s where he was in overtime when he posited himself in front of the St. Louis Blues‘ net. With the Wings on a power play, his job is to stand there and clean up anything that comes near him.
When Abdelkader had a chance at a rebound in front, he swiped at the puck once and jammed it off of goaltender Jake Allen‘s pad. With that shot, Abdelkader’s stick snapped, but was still connected enough for him to swipe at the rebound and put the puck in the net before it completely broke apart.
The goal, which came just 24 seconds into overtime was allowed to stand, but should it have? Abdelkader clearly scored while using a broken stick. NHL rules clearly state that a player caught playing with a broken stick is to be given a minor penalty and the goal certainly should not have counted.
Blues captain David Backes pleaded his case to the officials, but they did not even go to a review. The Red Wings earned a much-needed 2-1 win.
The problem with the broken stick rules is that they’re pretty vague. It doesn’t specifically mention goal-scoring plays. But it is clear in that a player must drop his stick after it breaks to continue playing. Here’s what Rule 10.3 says about broken sticks in full:
10.3 Broken Stick – Player: A broken stick is one which, in the opinion of the Referee, is unfit for normal play.
A player without a stick may participate in the game. A player whose stick is broken may participate in the game provided he drops the broken stick. A minor penalty shall be imposed for an infraction of this rule.
A player who has lost or broken his stick may only receive a stick at his own players’ bench or be handed one from a teammate on the ice. A player will be penalized if he throws, tosses, slides or shoots a stick to a teammate on the ice. A player may not participate in the play using a goalkeeper’s stick. A minor penalty shall be imposed for an infraction of this rule. A player tendered a stick thrown on the ice from the players’ or penalty bench will not receive a penalty. However, the person responsible for throwing the stick will receive a bench minor penalty.
Everything happens so fast in the heat of the moment of a net-front scramble. It would be difficult for the official to notice that the stick broke in real time. However, if you go by the letter of the rule, Abdelkader should not have played the puck with the broken stick. So why wasn’t it at least reviewed?
According to Rule 38.4, subsection viii, video reviews can be permitted to assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all potential goals to ensure they are “good hockey goals.” A goal scored with a broken stick, in that case, you would think would be reviewable.
According to former NHL referee Kerry Fraser, that is an incorrect assumption.
@uneasyeric Not part of allowable criteria for review. Ref needed to observe broken stick, disallow goal & assess minor penalty.
— Kerry Fraser (@kfraserthecall) March 22, 2015
The goal should not have counted and Abdelkader technically should have been given a minor penalty.
For a goal that was literally the difference between winning and losing, that is a call the officials simply have to get right. You can’t fault them for not seeing it right away with how fast everything happened, but the fact that they’re not able to even use the technology available to them for such a crucial call is frustrating. No one is probably more frustrated about it than the St. Louis Blues, though.
Head coach Ken Hitchcock voiced his displeasure thusly:
Hitch: “What are we gonna look at? The referee’s left the building. Elvis left the building. We didn’t have a chance to meet Elvis.”
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) March 22, 2015
With the win, the Red Wings grabbed a big two points to stay at least three points ahead of the Boston Bruins after Sunday (Boston plays later), while the Blues’ one point for escaping regulation gives them sole possession of first place in the Central Division. That extra point could loom largely in the future, however.
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