Quote:
Originally Posted by NHL Rule Book
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 38).
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.
The overriding rationale of this rule is that a goalkeeper should have the ability to move freely within his goal crease without being hindered by the actions of an attacking player. If an attacking player enters the goal crease and, by his actions, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.
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#1 doesn't apply because he is able to move freely in his crease.
#2 would apply if there was interference. However, the contact is incidental and momentary and doesn't prevent Skinner from moving within his crease, so the overriding rationale of the rule isn't violated.
If you look at the replay on NHL.com from the Blues' broadcast, it shows the reverse angle shot from behind Schenn.
From this angle, there doesn't appear to be any contact between Toropchenko's stick and Skinner's leg pad even though that's what Skinner was complaining about. The only contact appears to be when the puck is moving across to Schenn and Skinner moves across the crease to square up, it looks like the blade of Toropchenko's stick makes contact with Skinner high on the left side (either chest or hand). After that brief contact, Toropchenko puts his stick down to the ice and doesn't appear to make any contact on the way down.