#goaltender interference

[nottodayjustin]

September 10th 2024 best hockey tweet of the day

[annieqattheperipheral]

NO GOAL!!!!🙌🙏❤️❤️❤️ FUCKIN RIGHT U GET TF AWAY FROM GEORGIE

[soffecoeur]

Laura Stacey's overturned goal, MTL at NYC, February 21st 2024

[seedlessmuffins]

is goaltender interference a real rule in the NHL or did Big Gary make it up to disallow any goal he doesn’t like?

the goalie interference rule is one of the simpler rules in the NHL, but it has been widely misconstrued by inconsistent calls and extenuating circumstances, muddying the waters of what is and is not goalie interference. almost every time a coach’s challenge is based on goalie interference, whether the goal is overturned or not, it sparks debate among fans and media members. there seems to be a general confusion surrounding the goaltender interference rule, with many fans admitting that they cannot tell what is or isn’t goalie interference when watching games.

so what is goalie interference? let’s simplify!

THE PURPOSE

goalie interference was created as a rule to protect the goalie’s ability to move freely within the goal crease without obstructions from attacking players from the opposing team. simply put, the blue paint is supposed to be the goalie’s space to roam without interruption. goals will be disallowed under one of two circumstances: 

if the opposing player interferes with the goalie’s ability to move freely within the crease or defend the goal. this can be either through his positioning in the crease or through contact. 

if the opposing player deliberately or intentionally initiates contact with the goalie. this contact can be either inside or outside the crease. 

a goalie initiating contact with a player in an attempt to establish a position in the crease, a player obstructing the goalie’s sightlines and impacting his ability to defend the goal, and a player refusing to give ground to the goalie when in the crease are all grounds for a disallowed goal. 

a player being in the goal crease for more than an instantaneous period of time would be considered “establish[ing] a significant position within the crease” according to the NHL rulebook. this is why some goals are called off for goalie interference when there has been no traditional interference, or contact, of any kind between the player and the goalie: goals can be called off for interfering with the field of vision, not just initiating contact with their body or stick. 

THE REFS

like any rule, there are specific situations where the rule is applied differently, as much of the final decision on what is and is not goalie interference is decided by referees, who have to use their judgment to decide whether the player has impeded a goalie or not. this is where much of the confusion comes from. 

the referees are trusted with the ultimate decision of whether or not contact is incidental and, most controversially, whether or not a player has made a reasonable effort to avoid said contact. this can vary from referee to referee - the refs are human. what one referee might deem as a reasonable effort to avoid contact and let the goal stand, another might think the player could have taken more precautions to prevent interference and disallow the goal. 

when looking back and forth between a goalie interference call and the rulebook, you might disagree with the referee’s call on the ice. unfortunately, like many rules, there will sometimes be inconsistencies between the rule as written and the rule as implemented. when the judges of what is a good goal and what is not are human, bad calls will happen sometimes! it’s important to remember the rule is not flawed, perhaps just the implementation of the rule. 

THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES

the nhl rulebook has 32 separate potentially questionable situations where goalie interference could be called or not. here are some of the more common ones explained, although you can find all 32 explained in detail starting on page 154 of the nhl 2024-25 rulebook.

NON INCIDENTAL CONTACT

if contact is made at the time the goal is scored, but the referee determines that the player made a reasonable effort to avoid contact, the goal will be allowed. disallowing goals for goalie interference is meant to only disallow goals where incidental contact was made, so if contact was unavoidable even with the player’s best efforts, the goal will stand.

this clip is a good example because the bruins forward, jake debrusk, was sliding on the ice and just happened to collide with blues goalie, jake allen. the other bruins forward, ryan spooner, was also trying to skate across the goal crease and ended up getting caught in the debrusk allen pile-up. this was not goalie interference for that reason. 

PUSHING/SHOVING

if an attacking player has been pushed or shoved in any manner by a defending player in a way that causes them to make contact with the goalie, this contact will not be considered goalie interference. the goal will stand if the defensive player pushes the attacking player into the goalie causing interference, as long as the attacking player makes a reasonable effort to avoid such contact. 

this is an example of this, where rangers defenceman ryan mcdonagh pushes kings forward dwight king into rangers goalie henrik lundqvist as the goal is scored. As mcdonagh backs into king, king falls into lundqvist, impeding his ability to move in his crease. however, since the referee determined that king did not intend to be in the crease, and made a reasonable effort to avoid contact with lundqvist, the goal is good. 

SCREENING

though interference can also be interfering with a goalie’s sightline, screening is still allowed and a necessary part of the game. if an attacking player positions themself at the top of the crease line, in motion or still, to obstruct the goalie’s view of the puck and impair the goalie’s ability to defend, the goal is good. they are outside the crease, and therefore not restricting a goalie’s ability to move freely within the blue paint. 

this is a gorgeous example of a clean screen. ivan miroshnichenko is standing just outside the crease, moving where the goalie moves, preventing him from having a clear view of the puck. he stays on the white ice, not in the blue paint, allowing the goalie to move freely and unimpeded in the crease. this can be seen clearly when the camera shifts to the view behind the net, showing there are a few inches of space between miroshnichenko and the red crease line. 

[any-apples]

also like this begs the question what the hell is goaltender intererence? does the league know? do the refs know? the coaches certainly don’t know. they gotta figure that shit out at some point because this is utter bullshit with the failed challenges.

[coffee-at-annies]

God I actually have a diagram for that. Anyway the most correct answer is “if they were in the blue paint and touched the goalie then probably no goal” but it’s still a coin flip every time.

[aribaran]

so i have been super, super behind on posting here, but goaltender interference came out today! please also appreciate this lovely art by rozenkranz.

here's a newsletter with access to the prequels, the main book playlist, aiden’s playlist, and matt’s playlist. also some songs that aiden’s played for matt on the guitar over the years, and two of isaac pearson’s playlists that are mentioned in the book (songs to get over your ex to is a work in progress).

also previous newsletters about how personal this book is (and why aiden’s neurodivergence isn’t specifically named in the book) and also about some of the food aiden and his mom cook in the book.

so, uh...happy release day?

[jostystyles]

hanna: “what are your takeaways from the first period?”

jarvy: “that i still don’t know what goaltender interference is”

even the players are confused!

[nottodayjustin]

May 17th 2024 best hockey tweet(s) of the day

[girlishwhimsyy]

whatever it should be 1-1

[dvar-trek]

thank you, national georgie apologist, henrik lundqvist

[reverselayupz]

once we get the power play and the penalty kill and the offense and the defense on lock it’s over for the rest of the league

[tiger-balm]

BOOOOOOOOOO

[ottersonice]

HOCKEY GODS PLEASE

[nucksaid]

gm meeting on goaltender interference you say? what did they pass around a blank sheet of paper

[sam-montembeault]

😬 this will be interesting....

edit: the work is mysterious and important and this time in our favor