Bettman stands by call on disallowed goal

NHL commissioner also takes issue with conspiracy theory, saying it’s ‘both insulting and pure fantasy’

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman said that his deputies made the correct call on Daniel Sedin’s disallowed goal in Game 3 of the Vancouver-Los Angeles series, and accused Canadian reporters of searching for conspiracies.

The commissioner doubted that fans are confused about the rule regarding kicked-in goals, although even longtime hockey professionals such as Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault have said they are scratching their heads over the ruling in Game 3, and the rule itself.

“[If fans are confused] than we need to do a better job of explaining it,” Bettman said Wednesday before Game 4 of the Western Conference playoff series. “The rule make sense. I’m not so sure the fans are confused. I think people are trying to make issues where there shouldn’t be. But in the final analysis, we don’t want players kicking at pucks. It’s dangerous.”

Bettman also took issue with reporters who pointed out that NHL vice president of operations Mike Murphy is a former player and coach with the Kings. Murphy recently gave an interview with the team’s website in which he said it would be “neat” if his former club won the its first Stanley Cup. Murphy was also an assistant coach with the Canucks.

“This whole tact of innuendo and insinuation…is both insulting and pure fantasy,” Bettman said. “I would suggest that everybody move on.”

Sedin was initially credited with a goal in the third period of Vancouver’s eventual 5-3 loss to the Kings on Monday. But after a lengthy review by the league’s hockey operations department in Toronto, the goal was disallowed.

Video clearly showed that the puck deflected off Sedin’s skate, but there was no “distinct kicking motion,” which is what most fans have come to understand as the standard for disallowing goals. In fact, the league circulated a DVD to teams before the playoffs showing what constituted good goals, and goals that would be waved off.

“This was something that was reviewed with the general managers,” Bettman said. “Let’s get one thing really straight: I have complete confidence in the integrity, professionalism and judgment of my hockey operations department. Period.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/bettman-stands-by-call-on-disallowed-goal/article1542695/?cid=art-rail-hockey


10 Responses to Bettman stands by call on disallowed goal

  1. Magleaf says:

    bettman is such an idiot.

    yes sedin probably intentionally deflected the puck in with his foot.

    the rule isnt about deflecting its about kicking, there was no kick, there couldnt be he was stopping to avoid plowing over the golie

  2. Kramer says:

    This further proves The Big Conspiracy. Bettman made a deal with the Schwarzeneggar's government and the mafia to make L.A. win the series.

    Video replays are fixed. It's all a big scam. A magic show. Even the replays themselves are doctored up using software.

    Why do you think they take several minutes to show replays. There's a guy at the back using Photoshop touching up the visuals. It's all a ruse!!!

    All those league guys like Bettman and Mike Murphy take bribes, kickbacks and mafia payoffs, along with the refs.

    The root of the problem is gambling money through the casinos. It's big business vis-a-vis a money laundering operation by the NHL.

    If the IRS investigated, they'd find the league is running a Pyramid scheme. But the IRS is run by a bunch of lackies.

  3. TimTheBone says:

    Fail.

  4. Magleaf says:

    I never thought of it like that.

    Sometimes i forget how ruthless Schwarzeneger is.

    Great actor thoe

  5. Kramer says:

    To those who think the Kramer idea on conspiracies is extreme, you gotta remember this. Take everything in moderation, including moderation.

  6. SportsJerseysCanada says:

    For those that watched CBC last night, they showed the DVD that the NHL sent to teams about kicking the puck in the net. They showed 2 examples that looked just like the Sedin and Foligno goals and possibly worse. For both replays a giant "Good Goal" popped onto the screen.

    Now we're the ones that are confused? Thanks for insulting the few loyal fans your league has left Mr Bettman

  7. Magleaf says:

    on folignos goal from a certain angle it kinda does look like he has a bit of a kicking motion but its too tough to call

    i agree though, with that video they showd it makes it like wtf is going on

    i guess the rules change in the playoffs

  8. hockey_lover says:

    "i guess the rules change in the playoffs"

    Truer words have never been spoken …

  9. leafy says:

    I could have told you that. Bettman might look smart and sound smart, but in reality, he's a total idiot.

  10. leafy says:

    Again, no surprise by Bettman's response. He's an arrogant prick. We've seen this before. Remember him justifying the Brett Hull Stanley Cup winning goal in '99?

    Only Bettman could defend a sea of inconsistency while keeping a straight face. The man has no moral compass.

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