The Florida Panthers scored the all-important first goal in Game 6 against the New York Rangers, but should it have even counted?
Sam Bennett was able to scoop up the puck in the neutral zone and played a give-and-go with Evan Rodrigues as he placed a perfect shot top corner past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin.
However, just before Bennett got the puck, Rodrigues knocked down a Rangers clearing attempt with his stick before he played it over to his linemate. After Bennett scored, Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette was taking a second look at the play.
The official in line with the play clearly waived it off but it appears as if the puck was above Rodrigues’ shoulder and no Rangers player touches it before he plays it to Bennett.
Here is how the NHL rulebook outlines high stick stoppage based on Rule 80.1:
“Batting the puck above the normal height of the shoulders with a stick is prohibited. When a puck is struck with a high stick and subsequently comes into the possession and control of a player from the offending team (including the player who made contact with the puck), either directly or deflected off any player or official, there shall be a whistle.”
According to the rulebook, the play may continue if the puck was batted to an opponent.
Unfortunately, the Rangers also didn’t have the option to challenge for high stick because the only way for a coach’s challenge to be used is if there was a missed stoppage in the offensive zone that led to a goal. Since Rodrigues was in the neutral zone when he touched the puck, the play was not reviewable.
This isn’t the first time that high sticking has been a central discussion in this series. Back in Game 2, Barclay Goodrow batted a puck out of the air in the neutral zone that led to the overtime winner.
Much like the Bennett goal, the play was not reviewable because it did not occur in the offensive zone.