It's a mystery, an enigma. On many a night, across the NHL, fans of all teams end up bewildered by goaltender interference calls. What is it? Do the refs know? No one appears to have a standard on what this is.
According to the rule book:
Quote:
69.1 Interference on the Goalkeeper - This rule is based on the premise
that an attacking player’s position, whether inside or outside the
crease, should not, by itself, determine whether a goal should be
allowed or disallowed. In other words, goals scored while attacking
players are standing in the crease may, in appropriate circumstances
be allowed. Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) 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; or (2) an
attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a
goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact
with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when
such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the
attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.
The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice
judgement of the Referee(s), but may be subject to a Coach’s
Challenge (see Rule 78.7).
For purposes of this rule, “contact,” whether incidental or
otherwise, shall mean any contact that is made between or among a
goalkeeper and attacking player(s), whether by means of a stick or
any part of the body.
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Now, to me, Kylington's goal against the Canes violates both conditions of a disallowed goal for interference. Ryan knocked Mrazek's stick out of the way and prevented him from playing his position.
That said, there are countless incidents across the league where they are blowing these calls even after review.
What do YOU think goalie interference should be? Do you think the rule is clear enough and just isn't being enforced properly? Do you think the crease should play a larger role? What about goalies that play the puck? When are they being interfered with after engaging behind the net or something? How heavy can you play them? We've seen slight touches go penalized and full out body checks not.
I feel like the rule book seems to have it right, so why is it enforced so erratically? I can understand missed penalties like slashing at high speed, but when you have a second look and still can't get this stuff right it seems a little crazy to me. Very few goal reviews have I watched where I've had a tough time deciding whether an attacking player prevented a save or not. It's usually pretty obvious IMO.