Photo of Samuel Montembeault and Frank Nazar

Photo credit: NHL

It’s a sequence that sparked major reactions, not just in Montreal and Quebec, but across the National Hockey League.

You’re surely already aware of the situation, but here’s the sequence in question once again:

It was certain that the NHL would have to provide an explanation, and after last night’s verdict, here comes another official statement to announce yet another ruling.

No, this still doesn’t clarify the league’s incredible mishandling.

An official NHL statement following Frank Nazar’s controversial shootout goal

It’s a shootout loss that stings for Martin St-Louis’s squad-and more than that, it’s a shootout loss that continues to sow confusion.

Here’s what actually happened, according to journalist Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet):

“During the shootout between the Canadiens and Blackhawks, the person assigned to monitor the game in Toronto was the first to realize that Frank Nazar had scored-and that no one on the ice had noticed.

He immediately used his mic to contact the person responsible at the scorer’s bench.

I don’t know what happened inside the arena, but the officials went to get a new puck and Patrik Laine had already begun his attempt before everyone was alerted and before the decision on the ice could be changed.

If I were a viewer, a fan in the stands, or Brendan Gallagher, I would also believe that the decision was made too late.

But having seen it in person, the league did in fact notify the officials at the scorer’s bench in time.”

– Elliotte Friedman

Personally, that doesn’t reassure me at all, and it doesn’t prove the right decision was made.

The rule is extremely clear:

Well, that announcement is finally here-, and once again, it’s embarrassing.

The statement in question more or less explains what Friedman mentions above, but with far fewer details.

It still doesn’t explain why the verdict was changed AFTER Laine’s attempt, and it explains even less why Martin St-Louis wasn’t granted a reattempt.

Yes, it could have influenced his decision.

In short, this is a total fiasco, and these rulings/responses truly leave us unsatisfied.

And in your opinion, what should have been done?