Gary Bettman addressed the media prior to the Pittsburgh Penguins versus Philadelphia Flyers game.
Goaltender Interference Discussions
Bettman addressed a question from Taylor Haase of DK Pittsburgh Sports regarding the low success rate of coach’s challenges on goaltender interference this season.
Bettman said he met with NHL general managers last summer regarding the interpretation of goaltender interference. He was asked if those discussions involved any shift or deviation in the interpretation of goaltender interference that might help explain the low success rate.
Bettman responded, “No. I mean, I think… listen. When you have a rooting interest or you are, in the moment, very passionate or frustrated, you may challenge a call. But, in the final analysis, overwhelmingly, they get it right… and this final analysis, it’s a judgment call.”
He continued, “You know, offsides – other than when it comes to control of the puck – but offsides in terms of where the skate is is a whole lot easier to do because it’s more black and white. It’s a fine line. Goaltender interference is, again, a judgment call, which is why you go with the call on the ice unless it’s conclusively wrong.”
The Evolution of Video Replay
Bettman stated, “You know, when it was first instituted, we had warned the coaches and managers that this isn’t going to be crystal-clear in every situation. It will be, sort of, a judgment. Whatever your view of the process is, I guarantee you it’s much better in terms of getting it right than if we didn’t have video replay. There’s no question.”
He added that the initial design was for simple cases, such as a player skating by the goaltender and hitting his glove without the officials seeing it.
Bettman said, “I think Colin Campbell and his people have done a great job with more and more cameras in the net (behind) the crossbar and overhead. We’re going to get it right overwhelmingly. And we’ll get a few calls where people will debate them. Depending on your interest in the game, you may have a different view.”
Penguins v. Flyers Game 2 Lineups
The Pittsburgh Penguins lineup is as follows:
- Forwards: Egor Chinakhov – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust, Tommy Novak – Rickard Rakell – Evgeni Malkin, Elmer Soderblom – Ben Kindel – Anthony Mantha, Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
- Defensemen: Parker Wotherspoon – Erik Karlsson, Sam Girard – Kris Letang, Ryan Shea – Connor Clifton
- Goaltenders: Stuart Skinner (starter), Arturs Silovs (backup)
The Philadelphia Flyers lineup is as follows, per Siobhan Nolan of THN:
- Forwards: Travis Konecny – Christian Dvorak – Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov – Noah Cates – Denver Barkey, Tyson Foerster – Trevor Zegras – Owen Tippett, Luke Glendening – Sean Couturier – Garnet Hathaway
- Defensemen: Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam York – Jamie Drysdale, Nick Seeler – Emil Andrae
- Goaltenders: Dan Vladar (starter), Samuel Ersson (backup)
The Penguins have been playing a bit more in the Flyers’ end during the first period.