Coach Quenneville, "One Play Cost Us The Whole Game"

Ryan Hartman tied the game at 1 for the Blackhawks with 11:39 left in the game. A little over a minute later the Wild scored what looked like the go ahead goal. Then came the controversy and Coach Quenneville is not happy about it.

The replay showed an offsides Wild player in what seemed to be an easy no goal call. Much to all Blackhawks fan’s dismay, the goal was confirmed by the officials according to rule 83.1 listed below.

The Wild were awarded the goal and the Blackhawks received the penalty for losing the coach’s challenge. Just before the penalty expired the Wild scored again. What looked to be a tie game less than two minutes earlier turned into a two-point play in favor of the Wild.

In his postgame interview coach Quenneville said, “One play cost us the whole game.”

Well that one play looks like it was the wrong call. The officials should have looked one paragraph down At rule 83.2 listed below. Most notably the last sentence.

Seabrook did not carry or pass the puck into his defending zone as stated in rule 83.1. He deflected the puck from the neutral zone into the defensive zone which should have resulted in a delayed off-side penalty.

This isn’t a coach having sour apples but speaking the truth. Coach Quenneville was correct in saying that one play decided the game.

That was a two-point play. A goal that should have been called off and a power play goal that should have never been a power play. After this mess the Blackhawks were deflated and their play crumbled.

The Blackhawks have a true gripe in this matter and it will be interesting if the NHL responds. It won’t change the outcome of the game but it is important that professional sports leagues assess their mistakes so they won’t make them again.

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