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NHL's goalie interference problem is becoming an embarrassment
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs. Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

NHL's goalie interference problem is becoming league-wide embarrassment

Replay review in sports is supposed to fix things. It is not supposed to make things more difficult or even embarrass the league. But the NHL's attempt to legislate goaltender interference is proving to be a major problem for the league, and everybody is getting tired of it. 

Nobody knows what goalie interference is anymore

The biggest problem teams are having when they challenge plays for goalie interference is that there seems to be no consistency or standard for what the league is looking at when it makes the replay decision. 

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas spoke about the issues extensively on Friday.

On Thursday, the Penguins were unsuccessful when they challenged a Buffalo Sabres goal for goalie interference after Josh Doan made contact with goalie Arturs Silovs in the crease. The play was upheld, the Penguins lost the challenge, and were then given the two-minute penalty that comes for a failed challenge.

Dubas cited that play, and a nearly identical play involving the Columbus Blue Jackets on the same night that was overturned.

He also went into detail about similar plays involving Penguins forward Anthony Mantha that took away a goal, and one involving the Nashville Predators that was allowed to stand. 

Here is Dubas' full answer and explanation of the plays in question.

While that might seem like sour grapes from a general manager whose team has been on the wrong side of those calls in recent games, he is far from the only coach, executive or player who has sounded off on the subject.

The other factor here is that NHL teams are far less successful with goalie interference challenges than they have been in recent years.

During the 2024-25 season, teams were successful on more than 56% of their interference challenges. This season, they are only successful on 34% of their challenges. That is a stunning difference, and it is really hard to make the argument that coaches suddenly forgot what they were doing or started making random, bad decisions. Something is different, and it is annoying everybody. It is also a really bad look for the league to have so many important goals decided with no clear process. 

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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