Can't catch a break
NHL apologizes to Sabres for bad call
Posted: Thursday May 28, 1998 04:39 PM
| |
Hasek and the Sabres will have to make do with knowing the winning goal should been disallowed (AP) |
BUFFALO, New York (AP) -- The NHL admitted the play that led to the Washington Capitals' winning overtime goal over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals should have been blown dead for icing.
"Obviously, there was an error on our part," Bryan Lewis, the NHL's director of officiating told The Buffalo News. "The bottom line was that there was a judgment call by an official on a
split-second play. We could have done it a little better."
Lewis, who is monitoring the series between the Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings, said he discussed that and other controversial plays in Game 2 at Washington with NHL vice president Jim Gregory and supervisor of officials John D'Amico. Aside from an apology, nothing will be done
about the missed call.
Lewis informed the Sabres that the overtime play should have been blown dead the moment Sabres defenseman Jason Woolley touched
the puck. He said the failure to call icing came about because the linesman thought a pass by Washington's Esa Tikkanen had been released at the center ice line, when it actually had been released before the line.
He also said a non-call for a video replay on a goal by Peter Bondra was "at the referee's discretion."
Had referee Kerry Fraser consulted the replay judge, the official could have told him that Bondra's skate appeared to be in the crease when the goal was scored and the goal, Washington's first of the game, would have been disallowed.
| 
NHL Finals
