NHL admits it made wrong call in disallowing Sabres' goal
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) ā The NHL announced it made the wrong call in disallowing what would have been the Buffalo Sabresā tying goal in the final minute of a 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers.
In a statement released by the league on Saturday, senior executive VP Colin Campbell said Victor Olofssonās goal scored with 57 seconds remaining Friday night should have stood because video replays could not ādefinitively determineā whether the Sabres were offside entering the zone.
Sabres coach Don Granato shrugged off the NHLās admission when speaking prior to Saturday nightās game against the Washington Capitals.
āNo real reaction,ā Granato said. āItās hard for me to comment on it. You guys asked me about it after the game, and Iām going to tell you my approach to it is, you canāt play the āpoor meā card. You just canāt.ā
The goal was disallowed after a replay showed Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin crossed the Rangers blue line before the puck entered the zone. What review officials failed to take into account was whether Olofsson touched the puck before Dahlin tagged up by getting his skate on the blue line.
Because replays were inconclusive, Campbell said officials should have followed league policy in staying with the original call of a goal being scored.
Without disputing the ruling following the game, Granato said he asked officials if they could further review whether Dahlin had tagged up. He was informed the NHL had made its decision.
āI canāt have emotion in it. I canāt think about it,ā Granato said. āThereās certain things that are out of your control and you just play. You just trust that the league knows what theyāre doing and you move on.ā
The loss extended Buffaloās skid to 0-5-1, and the team is 3-14-2 in its past 19.
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