The most controversial aspect of the NHL‘s use of instant replay this season has become its handling of goalie interference plays.
Coaches across the league have seen their lowest success rate in challenging goaltender interference plays since the league made it reviewable, and if Sunday’s game between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings is any indicator of what it is ahead, things might reach a boiling point in the playoffs.
Goalie interference reviews will play a major role at some point in playoffs
It became a major sub-plot in the Avalanche’s 2-1 win over the Kings in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series on Sunday when a potential Logan O’Connor goal was immediately waived off when his teammate, Jack Drury, was bumped into Kings goalie Anton Forsberg.
The Avalanche felt that Drury was shoved into Forsberg by Kings defenseman Drew Doughty and challenged the call. They lost that challenge, with the interference call on the ice being upheld.
Here is a look at the play: