Canadiens fall short in crucial playoff battle vs Blackhawks after shocking referee ruling

Set to make their first postseason appearance since their unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, the Montreal Canadiens had everything on the line as they hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Instead, the night ended in frustration and confusion, with a 4-3 shootout loss and questions swirling around a disputed ruling that benefited their opponent.

A playoff berth that seemed within reach for the Canadiens slipped away under controversial circumstances Monday night, as an officiating miscommunication during the shootout amarred what could have been a decisive win.

The game’s controversy stemmed from a shootout goal scored by Frank Nazar, the first shooter for the Blackhawks. Unbeknownst to the referees and players on the ice, the puck had legally crossed the line, but the goal was not immediately confirmed. As a result, Canadiens forward Patrik Laine was sent out for his attempt while the scoreboard still reflected a 0-0 tie—despite the Blackhawks actually holding a 1-0 advantage.

According to François Gagnon, a trusted Canadiens insider, the confusion could have been prevented: “The officials in the Toronto control room confirmed Nazar’s goal. However, the communication did not reach the referees on the ice. When Patrik Laine took off as the second shooter sent by Martin St-Louis, the score was still 0-0 in everyone’s eyes, even though the Hawks were actually ahead 1-0. The Canadiens requested to retake the second shot after the necessary pause to clarify the confusion. That request was denied.”

NHL: Rules in question, fans left stunned

The controversy hinges on the NHL’s handling of video reviews during shootouts, an area where the rulebook remains somewhat ambiguous. While regular gameplay specifies that any video review must be completed before play resumes, the application of this principle to shootouts remains less defined.

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The NHL Rulebook does state: “Any potential goal requiring video review must be reviewed prior to and/or during the next stoppage of play. No goal may be awarded (or disallowed) as a result of a Video Review once play has resumed.“ Though the policy is traditionally enforced during regulation and overtime play, its omission in the context of a shootout raises important procedural concerns.

League response and aftermath

In response to the uproar, the NHL issued a clarification to address the sequence of events: “The Situation Room informed the Off-Ice Officials in the scorer’s box that Frank Nazar’s shootout attempt entered the net in a legal fashion immediately following the play and prior to Patrik Laine’s shootout attempt.“

While the league maintains that the communication occurred before Laine’s attempt, the incident has sparked renewed debate around consistency in rule enforcement and technological communication between league officials and on-ice referees.

What’s next for the Canadiens?

The Canadiens find themselves in a precarious position as the regular season nears its end. To maintain control over their playoff fate, they must secure at least one point in their upcoming matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.