The exact definition of goaltender interference in the NHL is still unclear.
On Saturday night, not only did the Rangers find themselves in a bind in terms of officiating in their home opener, which they lost 6-5 in overtime, but the club also faced not one, but two cases of questionable goalkeeper interference. He charged them with deeds.
Victor Mancini appeared to score his first NHL goal from the top of the zone in the second period, but the referee quickly waved it away.
Matt Lempe was positioned in front of the net, but his heel was barely enough to enter the blue crease, leading to a ruling for goaltender interference.
Peter Laviolette challenged the ruling on the play, but the Rangers head coach said it was because there was no contact.
Rather, Utah goaltender Connor Ingram initiated contact with Rempe.
The Rangers lost the challenge and were forced into a penalty kill as a result.
“It didn't seem like they contacted me,” Laviolette said. “I understand that the back of his heel was on the line of the blue paint. I get that. I think he's allowed to go through the paint, but he can't get in the way of the goaltender. . You can't take him out of the game.”
Late in the middle frame, Will Quill received his second penalty of the game for goaltender interference.
The second-year Rangers and Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev were engaged in a puck battle when both ran into Ingram, who ran to the left faceoff circle to deflect the puck.
“I couldn't see anything,” Laviolette said of the play. “I saw Will fighting another player for the puck, and when he really slowed down, both players ended up hitting the goalie, who was 15 feet from the net. I don't think either of the players who were going to get the puck saw the goalie. To me, it was an accidental contact.”
The Rangers hosted Utah Hockey Club for the first time Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
On April 18, 2024, the Utah Hockey Club, created when the NHL Board of Governors authorized NBA Jazz owner Ryan Smith to expand his franchise in Salt Lake City, essentially split the Arizona Coyotes franchise in half. was established.
Utah is officially considered an expansion team and not the relocated Coyotes team.
Smith acquired all of the Coyotes' hockey assets, but the organization has suspended its hockey operations and is currently inactive.
Arizona has been unable to secure a stable long-term arena and has been forced to play at Mallett Arena, a college-level building on the campus of Arizona State University, for the past two seasons.
Former Ranger Dominique Moore, who played a total of five years in New York, also joined Utah's broadcast team as an analyst ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Igor Shesterkin started Saturday's home opener, marking the third consecutive year the Russian netminder has appeared in at least the first two games of the season.
“There's always a plan,” Laviolette said of how he plans to use Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick for the start of the 2024-25 season. “Quickie is working hard here, but we have a plan. Right now, the schedule isn't too taxing. When it's time for them to leave, we'll have our staff ready.”
Shesterkin made 20 saves on 26 shots in the overtime loss, but started the season with a 1-0-1 record.
