NHL offers explanation on overturned goal that changed Game 7

CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos or video on a mobile device

SAN JOSE — As much as the Sharks needed Joe Pavelski, Martin Jones and Joonas Donskoi to beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday in Game 7 of their second round playoff series at SAP Center, they also needed the eagle eyes of Dan Darrow.

Immediately after it appeared that Colin Wilson had tied the game 2-2 at the 7:49 mark of the second period, Darrow, the Sharks’ video coach, notified coaches on San Jose’s bench that the Avalanche’s Gabriel Landeskog might have been offside.

The Sharks believed that before the puck had entered the Sharks’ zone after a giveaway by Barclay Goodrow, Landeskog was still inside the blue line. Landeskog was away from the play and on the other side of the ice about to step onto Colorado’s bench for a line change.

The Sharks challenged the goal, and after a review, the NHL’s Situation Room determined, according to its news release, that Landeskog “did not legally tag up at the blue line prior to the puck entering the offensive zone. The decision was made in accordance to Rule 83.3 (i), “All players of the offending team clear the zone at the same instant (skate contact with the blue line) permitting the attacking players to re-enter the attacking zone…”

The original call was overturned, and instead of a tie game, it remained 2-1 Sharks with 7:46 — when the off-side infraction occurred — left in the second period. Had the goal been allowed to stand, the Avalanche would have gone on the power play with the Sharks being called for delay of game.

Donskoi scored at the 12:37 mark of the second period to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead. Wilson assisted on Tyson Jost’s goal 51 seconds into the third period, but the Avalanche could get no closer.

“Tough call, because if you’re wrong, it’s a penalty,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “But it was a game-changing call, and we’ve had those go against us this year at different points. It was a huge call and a gutsy call by our video coach, Dan Darrow, who gets big props for that.”

Landeskog and Avalanche coach Jared Bednar gave their perspectives on the play.

“I was just as surprised as anybody,” Landeskog said. “I came off and two seconds later we score. I didn’t think anything of it, to be honest with you. And then you wonder why they weren’t dropping the puck, and obviously I was still on the ice. We saw some replays on the bench and from what we saw, it could have gone either way.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen that before. I mean, it’s a clumsy mistake. Get off the ice. I wish first of all I didn’t turn the puck over, it’s inside the blue line. But then again, if I didn’t turn the puck over, then Nate wouldn’t have got that chance to give it to Willy. So there’s a whole sequence of events. If I could have done something different on that play, I would have jumped the boards a lot quicker.”

“I would say it’s pretty rare,” Bednar said. “In a Game 7, even more so. It just doesn’t have a big affect. That player has nothing to do with the play that’s going on. It just seems like such a minute detail, whether he’s onside or offside. So it’s strange. It’s strange. It’s something we could have done without tonight, no question.”

In those type of situations, DeBoer said Darrow’s opinion carries a ton of weight. Other coaches will give their opinion, but ultimately, Darrow’s viewpoint is the one that matters the most.

“Dan is the lead on that. We get some other opinions on it, but Dan was the lead tonight. He’s the lead on it almost every night,” DeBoer said. “Ballsy call.”

Goodrow had some nervous moments as the play was being reviewed.

Related Articles Goalie assist: How Evgeni Nabokov guided both Anton Khudobin, Andrei Vasilevskiy

Boughner, Wilson explain how they plan to bring Sharks back to contention

Sharks name Bob Boughner coach — now comes the hard part for Doug Wilson

Former Sharks providing full value to Stanley Cup-bound teams

Home sweet home? Giants, visitors at Oracle Park, tie franchise record in win “I didn’t know he was offside,” Goodrow said. “I got the puck and I didn’t see that (Derick Brassard) was right beside me. I definitely should’ve just chipped it out, but thankfully Double D was on the ball there.”

Share this: Print

View more on The Mercury News