NHL Game Ends with Controversial Wild Goal

The "goal" was immediately signaled on the ice and upheld after a video review by the NHL Situation Room. The NHL cited Rule 63.7 to justify awarding the goal.

The NHL said: "The decision was made in accordance with Rule 63.7 which states 'In the event that the goal post is displaced, either deliberately or accidentally, by a defending player, prior to the puck crossing the goal line between the normal position of the goalposts, the referee may award a goal.

"In order to award a goal in this situation, the goal post must have been displaced by the actions of a defending player, the attacking player must have an imminent scoring opportunity prior to the goal post being displaced, and it must be determined that the puck would have entered the net between the normal position of the goal posts.”

Predators head coach Andrew Brunette did not agree with the ruling, saying, “The explanation was that, in [the referee’s] opinion, it was a goal. I disagree with his opinion, but that’s the way it is.”

Stamkos echoed his coach's frustration, adding, “Obviously, a weird play. I can see the confusion, but the confusing part for us was why it was so emphatically called [a goal].

“If the net didn’t dislodge, you would have ended up hitting the net. From our vantage point, we thought the puck came back to him on the second attempt because the net was off.”

Game-winning goal scorer Johansson, meanwhile, admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect in the moment.

“I had no idea, honestly,” Johansson said. “I don’t really know what happened. Didn’t know if we were supposed to celebrate or not. Didn’t know what the call was going to be. When it’s pushed off like that, it’s the right thing to do. Thankfully, I put it in even though the net wasn’t there.”

The goal delivered a 3–2 overtime win for the Wild, who moved to 5–6-3. The Predators fell to 5–6-4, with back-to-back OT losses.