SAN JOSE, Calif. – Yeah, they got screwed by a stupid rule. A really stupid rule that had absolutely zero to do with the play/goal it nullified. It was like having a home run disallowed because the hitter didn’t touch first base.
But we know, deep down, the Avalanche didn’t deserve that Game 7 tonight. The team that played the better game won it.
But yeah, the Avs got screwed on that disallowed goal. The NHL has gotten a lot of things right when it comes to officiating the game and the video review of contentious goals. The right call on goals is almost always made, and it didn’t used to be that way. But the one thing the league screwed up was the ridiculous offside rules, of the kind that disallowed Colin Wilson’s tying goal. Gabe Landeskog was trying to get off the ice for his line change , and was nowhere/no way/no how involved in the play that was developing on the other side of the ice.
But because he still had a foot on the ice and hadn’t gotten one or both of his skates off the ice and over the boards, it was deemed he was still an active skater at the time of the puck crossing the blue line and, so, no goal. He hadn’t “tagged up” yet. It’s a really technical rule and it ruined a tie game in a Game 7, which is exactly what you want, right Commissioner Bettman?
You have to feel a bit sick for Landeskog. He battled his ass off all year, had a career year, and the thing that will be shown on the replays a lot nationwide tonight and tomorrow was his taking too long to leave the ice after his shift. His back was turned toward a puck that had just gone out of the Sharks’ zone, so he probably thought he could take his time getting off the ice on the change. But the puck came right back in on the turnover, and by the time the Avs had full possession of it, Landeskog was still standing there by the door of the bench. He hadn’t technically cleared the zone yet. Linesemen and referees typically have a “five-foot rule” in which players are considered “off the ice” five feet from the boards as they are headed for a change. If they didn’t do that, there could be an offside or too-many-men violation on most every line change.
But Landeskog didn’t get off quick enough. Sharks video coach Dan Darrow immediately noticed this and radioed down to the coaches on the bench and the goal was quickly challenged. Keep in mind: if the Sharks’ challenge had been struck down, not only would the goal have counted, but a two-minute penalty would have been assessed on the Sharks too. It was a gamble that paid off for Darrow, whom I expect will get a nice playoff bonus this year.
Here is a clarification the NHL sent out on the whole thing:
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1126334485317001217
The Avs dressing room was as quiet as you’d think it would have been, after a 3-2 Game 7 loss. Landeskog, as he always does, faced the media music afterward, on the disallowed call and anything else we asked.
“It’s obviously a mistake,” Landeskog said of himself. “I mean, get off the ice. I wish, first of all, I didn’t turn the puck over inside the blue line. Then again, I’m glad I turned it over where Nate had a chance to get to it and get it over to Willy. If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten over the boards a lot quicker.”
Still, it’s the kind of dumb rule the NHL has to figure out so it can’t cost teams in a Game 7. I mean, it’s like the old “toe in the blue paint” rules of the mid-90s that overturned so many otherwise perfectly good goals. This is the same kind of thing really. It had nothing to do with the play, but a technicality prevented an otherwise exciting goal that tied a Game 7.
Otherwise, I can’t have too much spittle coming out of my mouth in righteous rage on behalf of all of you for too long here, though. As I said, the team that played the poorer game lost it. And with that, the Avalanche season of 2018-19 is over.
Jared Bednar said as much, in fact.
“The best team won every game of the series,” Bednar said. “We came up a little bit short. They were the better team for too big a portion of tonight’s game. They won it, they deserved it. We had some chances to tie it and guys worked real hard to the end. We’re proud of our guys and the way we played down the stretch. We took a step forward.”
Indeed, it was a heck of a fun spring to this point, and this Avalanche team deserves multiple hosannas for all the joy it brought us. The future looks bright. This team has the fourth pick in the draft and a bunch of money to spend under the salary cap. Probably not a whole lot is needed to get to another level – and keep in mind this team took another step up the ladder with that first-round win over No. 1 Calgary.
Here’s what I think would do the trick:
- More size. I’m not saying go out and get a bunch of goon behemoths. First off, you can’t be a goon anymore in this league. You have to skate. But the Avs need to get a bit bigger up front. San Jose’s forwards showed that in this series. They are a bigger team, a bit harder to handle in the corners and in front of the net. A lot of the Sharks’ goals were from rebounds in front or tips in front or just after a lot of cycling down low.
- Go out and get another proven goal-scorer. This could have come had the Avs gotten either the first or second pick with that one they had from Ottawa, but the ping-pong balls bounced the wrong way again and now it’s No. 4. They’ll still get a hell of a player most likely, but it’s probably not the guarantee for next year it might have been with a Jack Hughes or a Kaapo Kakko.
- So, this might have to come via trade or free agency. Some pretty nice goal scorers figure to be out there, such as Artemi Panarin or Jeff Skinner or, gulp, a Matt Duchene (no, I don’t think there will be a reunion with him, but stranger things have happened probably). Whoever it is, the Avs need another good stick. After the top line of MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen, it was still a bit too hard for the Avs to score goals – although I really like the way guys like J.T. Compher and Tyson Jost showed in those final two games of this series.
- Make it easier on yourselves in the regular season. That means, no more having to win the last game of the year just to get in (I know that wasn’t the case, but it was close) and get a higher seed than the second Wild Card spot. The Avs team that lost the 2000 Western finals in a Game 7 at Dallas made it a vow on the flight home that night to have every potential Game 7 at home the next season, and they did. And, that came in mighty handy in Game 7 wins against Los Angeles and, for the Cup, New Jersey. This Avs team has to make it a vow to at least finish higher than eighth next season and get more of that home cookin.’ We all saw what a difference a roaring crowd makes, in this series.
- I’m not sure the solution on this one, but it probably goes to the job Bednar has to keep doing with this group: I just think this team needs a bit more mental toughness, more of a killer attitude. Again, in this one, the Avs came out soft. To me, that was the whole key tonight: the start. I thought if the Avs could take a lead and, more important, sustain it for a while, they would win. But it was 2-0 after the first 12 minutes. When MacKinnon hurt himself going into the boards at 4:56 of the first, his teammates kind of wilted for a while from it. San Jose scored twice while MacKinnon was still in the dressing room, getting a pain injection (yes, that’s hockey tough for ya).
- The problem of relaxing a bit after some success – be it a big win or a big goal or two in a game – is still there somewhat. This team has to play like the game is 0-0. Yeah, that’s hard to do and human nature is what it is. But championship teams play like that. Someone needs to drill that mindset into the players.
- They need to win more faceoffs. The percentage tonight: 38 percent. Not good enough.
Hey, I want to thank everyone on behalf of BSN Denver for reading, subscribing and for keeping this a lively, growing site. We can’t do it without you.
Keep your chins up, people, better days will come. Promise.
0 Comments (23 conversations)
jbame
The team that played the better game won? Are you fucking kidding me. We out shot them. They got their two goals in the first when we lost MacK to a freak injury. Nice tip on the first one. Second one was on a PP the refs shouldn’t have called. Softest call ever on Brassard. Avs score with 6 seconds left and trail 2-1 despite SJ momentum of two goals early and played almost the whole period without MacK. Then in the 2nd the tie it, but the refs completely fuck us. I don’t care what the stupid rule says because even according to it, IT WAS STILL A GOOD FUCKING GOAL. Landy’s skate was on BLUE.
Not to mention the high stick Rantanen took in the face that wasn’t called.
Not to mention also the Karlsson trip on MacKinnon’s breakaway which was at least a minor but probably should have been a penalty shot. Then the entire 3rd we out shot the shit out of them. Don’t tell me ‘tHe BetTeR TeAm WoN’. BS.
BHGodlyGovt
Not sure you were watching the same game everyone else was. Don’t be such a homer, the Sharks were DEFINITELY better tonight, and overall this series. They didn’t completely wilt away after losing their captain for 6 GAMES, much less 10 MINUTES. Also, their star players played well the entire series, Landy, Mackinnon, Rants, EJ, and Barrie all had their terrible moments. Not to mention how bad Landy was tonight. This season was amazing, and I’m glad they lasted as long as they did. The team grew up a ton. But, I’m really glad in the end that we played the Sharks, because they exposed a lot of problems that the Avs need to fix before they will be a championship team. Thankfully, this is probably the Sharks’ last year of having a championship team, but the Avs are on the brink. Let’s just say, the Sharks aren’t beating us next season. Watch out, the Avs are coming within the next 2 years, NHL!!!!!!!!!!
Nels
They did expose our weaknesses. Like we need the refs in our pocket next season. That’s all that would have helped in this one.
Wrath of Jhan
A bummer of an ending for an otherwise memorable, fun season.
Big thanks to AD, AJ and Jesse for constantly keeping us all in the loop. Namaste.
jbame
Been hearing better days will come soon for 11+ seasons now. It feels more true than it has been for a long time but I’m so sick of waiting. Had a chance for our first WCF in 17 years and the league took it away from us. Anything to get beloved Thornton a chance at the cup I guess. Fix is in.
Appreciate all you at BSN do. Thank you for the coverage again this season.
ThatPetrolRelation
I think you forgot: fire the Power Play coach. If they had an even mediocre PP, they would have won the season.
But great coverage BSN, the only source I need.
JD16
Yeah. I don’t understand how you wouldn’t try and change the PP up. Switch Barrie and Wilson for girard and Makar (easiest thing to try). Even if it didn’t work at least you tried something instead of once again doing the same thing over and over again.
It took 3 full seasons for me to begin to respect Bednar. It was in the Calgary series where he actually made an asjustment. But it was back to the same so the same thing over again stuff with this power play. So frustrating.
Won’t get into “the call”… As there could be kids reading this.
DP10
The offside call deserves a film room break down I think. I am still pretty confused about the call and I am not sure the NHL got it right for a couple of reasons: a) Landy was in the process of removing himself from the action as the puck entered the zone and b) he did seem to have a skate touching the line (tag up) as the puck crossed the into the attacking zone and c) inconclusive reviews should not overturn the call made on the ice.
Other than that, I think the Avs should not sweat this exit too much. We made the playoffs after a serious mid-season meltdown and we really made the best of it! The puzzle of a championship contender is really starting to come together. But what impressed me the most in the PlayOffs were our young guns. Jost finally found an edge to his game that we weren’t even sure anymore he had. Compher and that #37 shirt are a perfect match. Zadorov is such a beast. And well Girard and Makar…who wouldn’t envy us with those guys.
Sunfunbun
NHL just fucked the Avs. Lots of tripping not called, as well by, especially one ref who was all game long in the way and not making calls. When Rants got tripped, the ref closest to the play did nothing, it took the back ref to make the call from beyond the blue line.
Avs win corsi and played a hard fought game. Barrie was atrocious. We win corsi 41-37, he was by far the worst at 6-16, and was a good 8-10 feet away from Pavs on that first tip in gift, couldn’t put the puck on net, and sucked on D all game.
DP10
The big calls certainly didn’t go our way tonight. Nonetheless, the Avs still allowed 3 goals that they could have prevented, so from that point I tend to be cautious with blaming the refs. I tend to subscribe to the karma of refereeing, calls will, over the years, go both ways. So maybe in the next couple of years, when our team is a bit more seasoned and a bit more complete, we will get the crucial call going our way.
BHGodlyGovt
It really depends on the refs you get. The way these refs called this series, the home team ALWAYS got the benefit of the doubt. They were atrocious. Not the reason we lost, but definitely didn’t help. Don’t agree with the “karma” thing at all, though. The NHL has ALWAYS screwed over the Avs, that “karma” would have switched the Avs way a LONG time ago if that were true.
DP10
Well there was that goal by Duchene a few years ago…haha. But seriously, it’s not been 17 year since our last conference final because of refereeing mishaps, right? Refs make mistakes. That’s part of the game. Video review should minimize those mistakes, which quantitatively it probably does. But anecdotally, video review kind a does the opposite because it also magnifies the cases where the refs still get it wrong both because it is not applied to every situation or a mistake is committed regardless of the technical aids.
Chris DeMott
Thanks AD – Good work, it was fun. See you next year!
Freddy
I think that overturned goal was a reflection of the vast amount of too-many-men penalties on the Avs this season. How many other teams have had that many?! Where’s the situational awareness?! The Avs were not the deserving team.
Cerveau
I agree the refs screwed the Avs.
That said, two comments:
1) Landy seemed to be playing hurt, Rantanen definitely seemed to be still hurt, and Mack got hurt this game. That tipped the scales a bit against us.
2) Pavelski coming back definitely also tipped the scales a bit in the Sharks favor.
With a series this close the little incremental differences made the difference. My impression was that tonight the Sharks seemed the more dangerous team.
I agree with AD’s other comments as to adjustments for next year.
Now I’m super interested to see what Sakic does over the summer.
Happy Summer folks!
Season’s over for me.
TylerPalmer
Argue about how dumb the rule is all you want, that’s not the point. The point is to overturn a call you have to have CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE, where is it? How can you sit there and look at those replays and say without a doubt Landeskog didn’t touch up? You can’t! So they should have stayed with the call on the ice. They got screwed, period. Stop picking up this other argument because it doesn’t matter.
Apollo
THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^ PERIOD!
dudleyconrad
I haven’t seen it, but allegedly the Canadian broadcast had a definitive shot. So I’ve heard.
NBC certainly didn’t.
hockeyhacker5
Nobody has mentioned one positive fact–in a draft with lots of talent mid-first round we just locked up the 16th pick instead of dropping to 28th with a win. That could turn out to be very valuable in the long run if we draft well. Obviously the loss hurt, but at least we “moved up” 12 spots instead of dropping three like with the Ottawa pick.
gtq
Agree 100% on the faceoffs. We start every power play retrieving the puck out of our zone and we start every penalty kill with a 45 second possession in our zone. Why? Because for whatever reason, center men who are otherwise quite skilled have not put in the work to become better face off men. I am convinced this is correctable and to let it go for two entire seasons like this in my opinion is inexcusable.
bpeterson76
NBCSN has been SO pro-Sharks, and even they had the studio crew do a video montage of missed penalties by the Sharks. When NBCSN sides for the Avs, you know it was bad….
mladen
I am 100% opposed to signing any free agents. We have Kaut, Bowers, Greer, O’connor Valemenov(sp) to go along with Compher and Jost. Then we have Ty Lewis and the Russian we got in the 2017 draft, can’t spell his name coming a year or two later. Teams have destroyed themselves signing these high priced free agents. Don’t ask me to prove this but I’ll say that for every successful free agent signing, there five that have not been worth it. It’s not so much the price but the length of these contracts that hurts, and the fact that they keep good prospects in the minors. I’m still upset over the 3 years for Calvert and Cole. we got our money’s worth this year but where will we be by the third.
creamy
I like the idea of Skinner on the Avs. I wonder if it would be worth the big bucks and term.
GWood
Great work this season AD, this site enhances the overall experience and is a critical component. As for this game, a lot of times we talk about a lucky bounce as being the difference in the game and that is what it is, but the disallowed goal was an absolute lucky ass GIFT of a game 7 to the Sharks. No other way to look at it. Even with the gift, the boys almost tied it up. Without that 15 mins where we all thought MacKinnon broke his collar bone, we take this game. What a shame. Thornton looks like a DB with that ridiculous looking beard and I can’t stand to look at Couture’s face. That is all.
Hockeyhead
Good article AD and great AVS coverage by BSN. Well worth it! If the sharks were the better team, it wasn’t by much IMO. I thought the Avs had a real chance to steal it. IF IF IF, Mack hadn’t gotten hurt, which did really deflate the team, if Landy and Mikko were healthy or healthier SJ would have been in more trouble. Two mistakes. Teams that advance don’t make mistakes, the margin is so slim. But they disallowed goal is a problem for the league, yes Landy should have gotten off with urgency, but if he was deemed to be an active skater to disallow the goal, it should of been a too many men penalty. So he just didn’t tag up, even though he was not affecting the play on ice, bummer for everyone. I think the exact same thing happened in another 2nd round series too. NBC didn’t show a zoom up of Landy’s skate as the puck crossed the blue line to see if his skate was touching blue, ( I don’t think they would do anything to hurt the Joe Thornton story, Puke! Go Blues, which is hard to say ) If you guys could film room it that would be awesome. I still think we got robbed and would like to see a better film of it. 2nd mistake, Z please stop doing that to us, I hope he does learn how to make a better first pass too. That said I think he is very important to the team going forward. Going forward, I agree that we need some more size upfront to compete for loose pucks better and forecheck etc. If we can sign a proven goal scoring free agent forward with out creating cap trouble in a few years great, it will speed up the process. I think Sakic still needs to be careful with FA and not give too much term to older players who could bust in their 30’s. That being said, the AVS have entered a window to win the cup. Mack is 23 and the window is centered around him. Hopefully our young players will NOW take that important step forward, being a consistent scoring threat to other teams. It has been a great run since Mid March. A lot of fun watching the Avs grow as a team. Hopefully this playoff experience will do wonders for them and kill the complacent self satisfied bug that has afflicted them for too long. Looking forward to the draft, FA and next year. I hope they heal up well and come out strong next fall. Thanks again to BSN for all of the great coverage.
Apollo
Hockey is a game of momentum and there were two HUGE momentum shifts in this game:
* The Mackinnon injury. It completely deflated the team. No one is arguing that the Sharks aren’t a deeper team and our team surely knew what it would’ve meant had MacKinnon been lost for the game/playoffs (and they played like it). If he doesn’t get injured and isn’t gone for 15 minutes, I don’t think they give up the 2 goals. Keep in mind, when he was gone we were two forwards short, skating the 11-7.
* The disallowed goal.
The NHL is wrong about their own rule book.
Either:
A. It’s not a good goal because Landeskog hadn’t touched up: Only problem is, it looked to me (and many others) like he did. All camera angles made availabale show that his skate was on the line; or at least that it was inconclusive, which should allow the on-ice call to stand.
B. It’s not a good goal because there were too many men on the ice (because Landeskog wasn’t within 5 feet of the bench during the change): Only problem is, he was… standing with one skate on the blue line. Not only that, the new player was already on the ice in the neutral zone.
C. If “B” is correct, why wasn’t a “too many men” penalty assessed? It wasn’t called because he was clearly out of the play and almost off the ice (while touching the blue line)… so the goal should stand. It was a good line change. THEY ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. Make up your minds, NHL.
If you were the NHL, which of these scenarios would you rather defend today: the one that impacted of the entire complexion of the game and is totally questionable/indefensible; or the one that, in the spirit of the rule, allows that to be a good goal and lets the players on the ice determine the outcome of the game? Is anyone seriously going to argue the Landeskog’s position had any impact on that play? Really?
Not only did they get the call wrong, the call completely misses the point of that rule in the first place. The Avs had all the momentum at that point. Even after missing MacKinnon for the first 15 minutes of the game we’d come all the way back and had every reason/ability to win. The call gave the Sharks all the momentum back and they scored their third goal soon thereafter. Completely deflating.
The way I see it, the NHL gave the Sharks their win over Vegas and gave the Sharks their win over the Avalanche. I’m fine losing gracefully if my team doesn’t get jobbed (the way the Golden Knights got jobbed too). But the NHL sucks at officiating it’s own game.
In retrospect it’s easy to say the Sharks outplayed us but as I said earlier, hockey is most definitely a game of momentum and… maybe a deeper team overcomes this nonsense call. But that doesn’t let the NHL off the hook with their crap calls and non-calls. We’ll never know how the game would’ve played out had the Avs been allowed that tying goal… maybe THEY dominate the Sharks the rest of the way.
zchambers
I really hadn’t given a single thought to the idea of Duchene coming back. Didn’t see it happening, didn’t want it to happen, but the mention of him in the notes above got me musing on this a bit. Thinking about a situation where all parties involved let bygones be bygones, and a contrite, more mature Duchene comes back to the place he wanted to be in the first place, this time helping to push this team into elite status. I don’t know, probably the long shot of all long shots, but the idea got me just a little bit excited for a moment. The reality is, despite a really nice playoff performance and a decent season on a horrible team, I’m still not sold on the value he truly brings, but a part of me would like to see a sweet redemption story like this play out.
Hockeyhead
SN sportsnet.ca has a good blue line video of the puck crossing the blue line and it sure looks like Landy’s skate is on the blue line, certainly not conclusive to be able to over turn the goal. You can stop the video as the puck crosses the blue line and look at landy’s skate. Looks like we got robbed.
Pucklehead
Landy giveth and Landy taketh…opportunity squandered though it appears the fix is in for the sharks…will we see Varly resigned? Panarin or Skinner before Ducheznee
texasavfan
This is probably a little late, but we had a tornado and our power just came back on … Anyway, why would we want Duchene back? During the series with Boston he scored the winning goal in overtime, and his response to Pierre McGuire was, “this really was not a very fun game to play …” What? You just scored the winning goal, the thing every kid who has ever played the game dreams of, and it “really was not fun”? I don’t think the Avs (or any team) need that kind of attitude in the locker room.
Troutzky
I’m way late to the comment party here, but I was so pissed at that call that I nearly threw my half finished beer through my brand new TV and have basically checked out of all things playoff hockey related since the game ended.
Anyway, I agree with most everything else that has been written here, but the one thing that surprised me the most about that blown call was the realization that not all bench doors are in the same location arena to arena. I was just in the Pepsi Center for 3 of our playoff games and I’d swear our bench doors are located ON the blue line, with the line actually painted on the door itself – making it nearly impossible to have a call like this go against anyone as they’d be standing on the blue line going to the bench. The fact that SJ’s aren’t in the same location and are actually in the zone itself makes me wonder how the NHL has allowed that difference to exist in the first place. I mean, can you imagine the NFL playing games with wider or narrower fields stadium to stadium, where it takes longer to sub players depending on where you’re playing? Absolutely ridiculous that this type of offsides is possible in some arenas and not others.