Lightning have two goals waved off due to goaltender interference

With their season on the line, the Tampa Bay Lightning scored two goals that ultimately didn't count due to goaltender interference.

The first came in the first period when Anthony Cirelli and the Lightning thought they had opened the scoring in Game 5 against the Florida Panthers after the forward found a loose puck in front of the net and slipped it past Sergei Bobrovsky.

But after a coach's challenge by the Panthers, it was determined that Anthony Duclair had interfered with Sergei Bobrovsky.

The league's official ruling stated, "Video review determined Tampa Bay’s Anthony Duclair impaired Sergei Bobrovsky’s ability to play his position in the crease prior to Anthony Cirelli’s goal."

The NHL's decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1 which states, in part, “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.”

Dave Jackson, NHL rules analyst, weighed in on the ESPN broadcast noting that he believed it was a tough call to make but that Duclair "gets (into the goalie's crease) by himself, he's not pushed in. He's trying to keep himself outside the blue paint but he does put his foot in, it's between the goalkeeper's glove ... I think this is a good challenge."

In a series the Lightning trailed 3-1 heading into the game, a goal in the first period to put them up would've been a welcomed boost to gain some momentum, but it wasn't meant to be.

Cirelli's misfortune didn't end there as he was involved in another Tampa Bay goal being disallowed later in the game. Facing a 2-1 deficit in the second period, Mikhail Sergachev put a shot on net that appeared to be a game-tying goal.

However, officials immediately waved it off as they deemed Cirelli to be the perpetrator of goalie interference this time around. Despite being tangled up with Panthers defenceman Niko Mikkola, Cirelli being in the crease was enough in the eyes of the officials to wave off the goal.

Tampa attempted to challenge the no-goal but the ruling was confirmed after a review, forcing the Lightning to kill a penalty.

"They got the call right which I completely disagree with," Sportsnet analyst Kelly Hrudey, a former goalie, said in the second intermission. "I personally believe there should be incidental contact allowed, a goaltender should have to fight through a little bit, and unfortunately they've made it a thing to just protect the goaltenders at all cost. And I don't think that's the spirit of the game or the rule."