CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks already had a 1-0 first-period lead, were dominating play and thought they had doubled their advantage when they saw the puck slide into the Boston Bruins' net.
Instead, referee Wes McCauley, who was peering through the top of the net from behind the cage, quickly waved his arms to call the play dead and the NHL's Situation Room upheld the call on the ice after conducting a video review.
It would have been the all-important second goal of what was a dominating first period. Instead Chicago never scored again en route to a 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
"I thought the whistle was a little quick, but that's the way it is," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "It's frustrating when the bounces don't go your way."
The play in question happened 12:32 into the first period when Toews wrapped the puck around the net and Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask went down to cover the goal line. Marian Hossa tried to poke the puck into the net, but the puck was not visible and McCauley quickly waved his arms.
Toews called it a quick whistle, but Hossa claimed he never heard a whistle and coach Joel Quenneville said he was told by the officials that McCauley's intention was to blow the whistle.
"I just tried to battle for the space and all of a sudden I saw the loose puck and I tried to put my stick at the puck," Hossa said. "I just felt the puck was crossing the line and the ref said he made the whistle. I didn't hear the whistle, but there was so much noise in the building so I don't know if the referee made the whistle so early or not. But they decided and we have to move on."
Replays showed the puck actually did cross the goal line -- but not before McCauley made his decision to stop play.
---
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.