Golden Knights’ John Tortorella would challenge potential goal “10 out of 10 times”
After his team suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella didn’t back down from his decision to challenge a controversial no-goal call in the third period.
With just over five minutes left to play in regulation time, the puck appeared to cross the goal line behind Hurricanes goaltender Freddy Andersen after a wraparound shot attempt by Vegas forward Ivan Barbashev. However, the on-ice officials immediately indicated that there was no goal on the play, and the initial call stood after Tortorella opted to challenge.
“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddy, our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie, and it goes through and went to the other side,” Tortorella said in his post-game media availability in Raleigh. “I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”
Vegas would’ve taken a 3-2 lead had the call been overturned; instead, the Knights were assessed a two-minute minor penalty for delay of game, and Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal scored on the ensuing power play.
The Golden Knights lose the challenge to overturn this no-goal call.
Although they restored the tie with 1:21 to play in the third period, the Knights ultimately lost the game in overtime off a power-play goal by Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis. The series will resume on Saturday for Game 3 in Vegas, with the two teams tied at one win apiece.
The Athletic writer Jesse Granger tweeted out an explanation from the NHL about the no-goal call on Thursday night: “The ruling on the play was goaltender interference. He waved it [off] immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waved it off immediately.”
The Golden Knights and Hurricanes both mustered up 26 shots in the game. Brett Howden scored twice for Vegas in the first two periods, while Mark Stone netted the game-tying goal in the third; Logan Stankoven, Mark Jankowski, and Staal scored for Carolina in regulation before Jarvis won the game in overtime.