Why Kris Versteeg's Goal Shouldn't Have Counted

All of a sudden, it would seem that Toronto Maple Leafs fans, no longer satisfied with an unbelievable and unforeseen 4-0 start this season, can't leave well enough alone. Their unbeaten season came to an end last night, as the team lost 2-1 in overtime to the New York Islanders. If you ask a die-hard citizen of Leafs nation, though, the Leafs were robbed of a win in regulation thanks to two waived-off goals.

While Colby Armstrong's marker in the third period never did cross the goal line (as video evidence proved, along with the fact that Islander John Tavares only touched the puck with his glove in the crease and didn't cover or gather it), Kris Versteeg did manage to find the back of the net in the second period. Unfortunately, it was only after he got control of the puck thanks to a high-sticking violation, meaning the goal shouldn't have counted. Many might argue that his stick wasn't higher than the crossbar when he touched the puck, but after watching the video five times and going to the eye doctor four just to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me in between views, it's very clear that the referee made the right call.

Again, many Leafs fans may argue correctly that video replay cannot be used to call a high stick, at least not when that high stick is not directly responsible for a goal being scored. In Versteeg's case, the high stick came in the lead-up to the goal. As such, Leafs fans are right here. However, no video replay was used and the goal was called back based on the referee's on-ice decision. And even though the referee's whistle may have come after the puck crossed the goal line, rule 31.2 of the NHL rulebook officially states:

"As there is a human factor involved in blowing the whistle to stop play, the Referee may deem the play to be stopped slightly prior to the whistle actually being blown. The fact that the puck may come loose or cross the goal line prior to the sound of the whistle has no bearing if the Referee has ruled that the play had been stopped prior to this happening."

As a result, you have quite the convenient rule that covers referees' backsides pretty well, but an inconsequential one this time around, seeing as it wasn't a good goal to begin with. Cheer up, Leafs fans. Your team is still unbeaten in regulation time, a fact you will no doubt rub in the face of every other Canadian fan 10 times or so at least until Thursday, when the Leafs face the New York Rangers.