It's been a difficult stretch for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the team has suffered three regulation defeats and allowed 23 goals in its last four games.
However, the Leafs remain positive despite the rough patch.
"In our meetings today just talking with one another, we're not sulking or getting down on one another," Auston Matthews told reporters on Monday. "We want to hold each other accountable and be better for one another."
Head coach Mike Babcock believes such a losing skid can help his team grow.
"Adversity is really important for you in life. When you don't have some, you think you should get some so you can get better," Babcock told reporters. "When you get it, you don't want it. We have it right now. Let's pull together."
Goaltender Frederik Andersen has been one of the league's top netminders this season but has posted just a .885 save percentage and 3.97 goals-against average during March.
"I think a little adversity will be good for some teams sometimes, and I'm sure once we work our way out of it, we'll be better off," Andersen said. "You don't feel good doing it, but once you get out of it, you are probably, like I said, better off and learn some very valuable lessons."
The Leafs have 10 games remaining in the regular season and will kick off a two-game road trip against the Nashville Predators and Buffalo Sabres beginning Tuesday.
Four months. One hundred and twenty total days. Fifty games.
That's how long it's been since the Chicago Blackhawks went under the total in back-to-back games.
The league's best "over" team at 47-20-4 this season has been a thorn in the sides of oddsmakers, who had no choice but to start bumping some of the Blackhawks' game totals up to 7 following a stretch in which Chicago went 15-1 to the over starting in January.
Off a 2-0 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday - and a comfortable victory for "under" bettors - the Blackhawks are in a position Monday against the Vancouver Canucks to hit consecutive unders for the first time since November 16-18.
Trends are not predictive, but if Monday's game against the Canucks continues the pattern set over the last four months, we'll see a flurry of goals.
Here's what's happened in the games following an under since November's back-to-back:
Opponent
Final Score
O/U
Anaheim
ANA 4-2
Over
Winnipeg
WPG 6-3
Over
Dallas
CHI 5-2
Over
Florida
FLA 6-3
Over
Boston
BOS 4-2
Push
Pittsburgh
CHI 5-3
Over
Buffalo
CHI 7-3
Over
Arizona
CHI 7-1
Over
It's not really a surprise that the Blackhawks have been a good over bet this season - they're in the top 10 in the NHL in scoring (3.4 goals per game) and concede at a league-worst rate (3.7). Chicago's "first-period over" surge has also been well-documented, hitting at better than a 70-percent clip this season.
The Blackhawks are looking to go over the total in 10 straight home games and 14 in 15 at the United Center when they host the Canucks.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.
TORONTO - It's a Friday evening in the Center of the Hockey Universe and thousands of Maple Leafs fans are streaming into Gate 1 at Scotiabank Arena. They gab and laugh, weaving through a tight hallway. It's nearly go time for a St. Patrick's Day weekend matchup against the Flyers.
Next door, on the 10th floor of 50 Bay Street, home of the National Hockey League offices, Sean Ellis settles in for the night. Four TV monitors, a laptop, an iPad, an iPhone, a TV remote, a computer mouse, a bottle of water, a sandwich, and a banana are all within reach. Like five other days this week and every week during the season, Ellis is in his element.
Nick Roy / theScore
This is the workstation of a professional hockey watcher. "I couldn't think of a better job for myself," says Ellis, who's wearing an NHL-themed Patagonia sweater and a Winter Classic ball cap as he sits in his computer chair, his back to a view of the Toronto waterfront.
Pro hockey was the dream when Ellis, who hails from Massachusetts, graduated from Amherst College in 2007. He dressed for five preseason games in the Central Hockey League, hit the waiver wire, and decided to turn the page. "It was pretty disappointing," the 35-year-old admits. " ... But if it meant I wouldn't have this job, I'd choose this every time."
A decade later, Ellis holds the title of senior director of hockey operations for the NHL. He's a key member of a group that, among other duties, audits games in real time from the Situation Room, the league's center for quality control.
Not to be confused with the Department of Player Safety - the NHL's New York-based disciplinary arm - the Situation Room reviews disputed on-ice events such as goals, offsides, and goalie interference. Ellis and his colleagues are responsible for handling coach's challenges and, in general, maintaining the integrity of the game.
On March 15, as the Leafs and Flyers skated before 19,290 fans a short walk away, the NHL granted theScore entry into the Situation Room. Here's what we learned from our trip behind the scenes.
__________
The Situation Room traces its origins back to an angry phone call from Ken Holland in 2002. The longtime Red Wings general manager rang the league in the middle of a Wings-Flames game to vent about a gaffe by the on-site goal judge in Calgary.
"You guys have to do something about this! This is wrong!" Holland said, as retold by Mike Murphy, the NHL's senior vice president of hockey operations. "We can't have amateurs and part-time people making calls on those games!"
At the next GM meetings, the idea of creating a centralized video room was tabled. That discussion eventually led the NHL to grant select employees final authority on plays that were deemed reviewable. Starting in 2003, all concerns were directed to a dedicated unit of professionals in Toronto, rather than a local part-timer who had the emotionally involved parties - like Holland and his GM peers, along with coaches, players, and fans - breathing down their neck.
"This room's in a bubble. You're insulated from that type of abuse and that type of problem. At the rink you can get influenced by the pressure of the crowd, the pressure of the general manager," Murphy says with the start of the Leafs-Flyers broadcast in his peripheral vision. "That was the creation of this, and it's just exploded with more technology. TiVo, high-definition TV, fiber optics … "
Nick Roy / theScore
On this particular night, Murphy and VP of hockey ops Rod Pasma man the bridge, an elevated strip inside the Situation Room. Five 90-inch screens are mounted at the head of the room. Above those screens, a ticker displays the operators and on-ice officials assigned to each active game. Monitors on a side wall ensure there's no shortage of visual aids.
On either side of the bridge sit the video room operators, part- and full-time NHL employees who inspect games. The operators have instant access to 14 camera angles, some of which are exclusive to the Situation Room, and they're trained to follow what other people aren't watching.
Ellis' spot is in the back row, a few seats away from Don Van Massenhoven. The longtime referee is part of a rotation of retired officials added to the group this season to supplement the review process. Their expertise lends a unique perspective and an extra layer of insight.
At around 7:35 p.m., with the Leafs and Flyers tied 1-1, the room comes alive.
Auston Matthews has batted a puck past Flyers goalie Brian Elliott in the final minute of the first period. On the ice, it's called a goal by head ref Dean Morton.
"Oh!" Pasma yells. "The net's off," Ellis says calmly, defining the issue. "Is it really?" Murphy asks. "Before it goes in?"
Within seconds, Pasma initiates review protocol, sending a signal to the off-ice official stationed between the penalty boxes inside Scotiabank Arena. A red strobe light flashes at ice level and a man picks up the phone. "Hey Luke, it looks like we might have a net off here … "
As Pasma, Murphy, and Van Massenhoven watch the sequence from numerous angles, Ellis transfers footage of the play to an iPad that can be viewed by the referees inside the arena. Morton picks up the tablet, puts on a headset, and links up with Pasma for a chat.
"Whaddaya got, Morty?" Pasma asks.
"We've got a good goal. Matthews bats the puck … (The Flyers are) talking about the net being off. I don't have the net moving at all until maybe after the play? And it looked like it was in play even when Matthews was batting away at the side of the net."
"Yeah. From where you are, Morty, it's hard to see because Elliott's pad's on it, but this net is definitely off the moorings before he shoots it in. OK? So, the net is off. This is no goal, Morty."
"So, we've got no goal. It wasn't continuous action and the Flyers did not bat it in?"
"That's exactly right. We looked at that, too, Morty. He shoots it well after the net's off."
"OK, so we've got no goal. The net was off its moorings prior to the puck crossing the line. OK, thank you."
Headset off, Morton delivers the verdict to the Toronto crowd. Matthews rolls his eyes. As a chorus of boos drowns out Morton's final words and social media reacts to the decision, the Situation Room launches into Phase 2: educating the hockey world.
The league's communications and public relations departments have been involved in the review process to varying degrees since the 2009 playoffs. In the moments following the Matthews decision, Corey Dempsey, an in-game communications employee, has already typed a rough draft laying out the Situation Room's reasoning for overturning the call on the ice.
PR colleague Trevor Bjergso consults with Dempsey, who has a Word doc open for Pasma's approval. Making his way over from the bridge, Pasma recites exact wording for one particular part of the draft. The language is important. Dempsey reads the passage back to Bjergso, Pasma, and Murphy. He gets the green light from his superiors. It's ready for public consumption.
The explanation is emailed to the PR departments for the Leafs and Flyers, as well as regional and national broadcasting partners. Roughly 10 minutes after Pasma's headset discussion with Morton, the rationale is published on NHL.com and fed through the league's social media channels. "The room's evolved," Pasma says, "into this real-time information generator."
Murphy connects via phone with his boss, executive VP of hockey ops Colin Campbell, who is working from his home in the southwestern Ontario farm town of Tillsonburg. In great detail, they discuss a potential issue with the nets in the Leafs' home rink. Toronto was on the wrong side of another goal review earlier in the week, and in both instances, the net seemed to be rather easily dislodged.
Pasma joins the conversation and the three higher-ups toss around several theories. Nothing official is being decided, but there's a strong sense of curiosity. They'd like to be proactive. So, what's really going on? Are the pegs used to secure the nets not gripping the ice? Is this actually an issue? If so, how can it be fixed?
This back-and-forth is a prime example of the Situation Room's influence on the game of hockey, which extends far beyond a goal review on a Friday night in mid-March. In the moment, the group is beholden to the rule book and errs on the side of caution. There are no knee-jerk reactions. However, the room often serves as a think tank for improving the on-ice product.
"Snow gets in there and either messes with the integrity of the peg or keeps it from going down. Something. When our ice crews go out, clean the holes out, put the pegs back in," Pasma says to Campbell and Murphy at one point. The pair clearly agreed. On Saturday, the hockey ops department emails a memo to arena crews across the league, encouraging them to pay closer attention to the stability of the nets.
Much like the dynamic within the Situation Room itself, the NHL's hockey ops department tries its best to operate democratically over the medium and long terms. The GMs, on the whole, act as the Situation Room's "compass," Pasma says, but the line of communication is always open.
"A lot of times, if we have a lot of contentious plays, we'll take them to the managers meetings," he continues, emphasizing the collaborative approach of the NHL's major off-ice influencers. "Here's the play, here's our ruling on it, here's why we ruled on it, can you tell us what you guys think?"
__________
There was a time when the NHL's hockey ops department only ruled on player safety issues, handing down suspensions for biting, spearing, and other egregious acts. Murphy, the 68-year-old former player and coach, laughs when he remembers attempting to review footage on the fly with 12-inch TVs and VHS tapes.
"If you saw something, you'd have to wait for a commercial break and then hurry back to the right spot (in the tape)," he says, recalling having to FedEx the cassettes to Campbell's home. "And then you'd hurry forward to reset it so you wouldn't miss the game."
Nick Roy / theScore
In 2019, the player safety department and the Situation Room operate completely independently from each other, and the latter's considered innovative in the pro sports landscape. Of course, it helps that the technology has improved immensely, solidifying and streamlining the review process.
Next season, player and puck tracking will be rolled out on a full-time basis, adding a new tool to the technological arsenal. Will it dramatically affect the Situation Room? As of now, it's tough to say.
"There are times where we lose a puck in the goalie's equipment - under a pad - and you think it may be in the net but you can't be 100 percent sure. Or it goes into his glove and you think it's across the goal line. I think tracking may help in that area," Pasma says. He also thinks it could, hypothetically, help in the realm of high-stick goals too.
But there are no guarantees with new tech. And for the Situation Room's inhabitants, that's part of the fun. The NHL's rules will forever be tweaked, its production quality always improved, yet the group's collective dedication to "getting it right" simply cannot slip.
On this particular Friday night, Ellis hops into his car well after midnight following a second game plus some additional Situation Room duties. With Leafs fans long gone from Scotiabank Arena and the weekend's Irish-themed festivities in full swing, the professional hockey watcher drives some 100 kilometers to his home in Cambridge, Ontario. He'll complete the same commute again and again and again, logging more than 400 games a year.
Not a bad gig for a guy who couldn't crack the Central Hockey League.
"At times, like in February and March, it can really feel like it's dragging. But you just need one game where something big happens and you snap out of it," Ellis says. "You walk away at the end of the night and remember how lucky you are to get to do this."
John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.
Merzlikins is reportedly expected to fly to Columbus on Sunday or next Monday and then make his North American debut with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters either March 29 or 30 at Quicken Loans Arena. The Latvian has played in Switzerland's top professional league for the last six years.
Signing the 24-year-old now will burn his entry-level deal and make him a restricted free agent on July 1, Portzline adds.
Merzlikins, a third-round pick by the Blue Jackets in 2014, is widely viewed as Columbus' goalie of the future. With Sergei Bobrovsky set to become an unrestricted free agent, that future could arrive as early as next season.
The 6-foot-3 Merzlikins has posted a save percentage of .920 or better in four of his six seasons with HC Lugano in the National League. Merzlikins has also shined on the international stage, registering a 1.50 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage in six games for Latvia at the 2018 World Championship.
Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on the championship round of the fantasy hockey playoffs. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Scoop up Philipp Grubauer
Team: Avalanche Position: G Ownership: 31 percent
Grubauer's made a late-season charge to emerge as the Avalanche's undisputed No. 1 goalie. Across his last six games, he's posted three shutouts and a jaw-dropping .971 save percentage. Meanwhile, fellow netminder Semyon Varlamov owns an .899 save percentage over his last six starts.
Grubauer has started three of Colorado's last four games, and with four contests on the schedule this week, he'll likely make at least three appearances. The Avalanche are fighting for their playoff lives, and will almost certainly ride the hotter goalie down the stretch.
The Capitals are the only team this week that'll partake in four games but not play on Thursday or Saturday - the busiest nights of the week.
That means you should have no problem getting Vrana - who's recorded a modest six points in his last 10 games - into your lineup four times. And if you're in a deeper league where Vrana's already been scooped up, turn to teammate Brett Connolly (4 percent owned), who has 10 points in his last 13 games.
Drop Sam Reinhart
Team: Sabres Position: C/RW Ownership: 62 percent
The Sabres have just one win in their last eight games, and they've been shut out three times during that span. The slump has unsurprisingly taken its toll on the top line - most notably Reinhart, who's posted only one point in his last eight games.
Meanwhile, Buffalo plays just twice this week, so the former second overall pick won't provide any more value in re-draft leagues this season.
Dylan Strome has endeared himself to Blackhawks fans since arriving in the Windy City, but the forgotten piece from the November trade with Arizona is beginning to emerge as a dangerous offensive threat. Perlini's scored eight goals while adding two assists across his last seven games, and he's currently rounding out a potent trio alongside Strome and Alex DeBrincat.
Chicago plays four games this week, and if you're able to squeeze Perlini into your lineup on every occasion, he needs to be added in all formats.
Discard Chris Kreider
Team: Rangers Position: LW Ownership: 67 percent
Anyone on the Rangers not named Mika Zibanejad can be dropped this week, and that includes Kreider. The veteran winger has notched a measly two points in his last 10 outings, and the Blueshirts have just two games on the docket this week.
This is the 13th and penultimate edition of theScore's 2018-19 NHL Power Rankings, which are published every two weeks during the regular season.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (55-13-4)
The Lightning have won six of their last seven games and potted at least five goals in five of those contests. Nikita Kucherov also added to his historic campaign by picking up his eighth four-point night of the season in a comeback victory over the Red Wings. The Bolts just need two more points to clinch the Presidents' Trophy.
Previously: 1st
2. San Jose Sharks (43-21-8) ▲
The Sharks began March with six consecutive wins before losing two straight on home ice. Goaltender Martin Jones has posted his best month of the season with a .917 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average, while the offense continues to hum with 35 goals over the past 10 games.
Previously: 5th
3. Calgary Flames (44-21-7)
The Flames responded to their recent four-game slide with a three-game winning streak that saw them explode for 20 goals. Johnny Gaudreau'sincredible six-point effort (3G, 3A) against the Devils stands as the best statistical game by any player this season.
Previously: 3rd
4. Washington Capitals (42-23-7) ▲
The defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals are playing their best hockey at the right time with eight wins in their last 10 games. Alex Ovechkin is just two goals shy of hitting 50 for the eighth time in his career, which would move him one shy of tying Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the all-time record of nine.
Previously: 6th
5. Boston Bruins (43-20-9) ▼
The Bruins predictably fell back down to earth after snapping their 19-game point streak, losing three straight. Overall, roster depth has played a pivotal role in Boston staying afloat while five key players are out with injuries, and sniper David Pastrnak's return to practice Saturday is a nightmare for the rest of the league.
Previously: 2nd
6. Toronto Maple Leafs (43-24-5) ▼
The Maple Leafs have seen their defensive depth exposed following injuries to Jake Gardiner and Travis Dermott, and the team's tendency to float through first periods has resulted in chasing games. Toronto's allowed 23 goals over its last four contests, with three of those duds coming against teams currently outside the playoff picture.
Previously: 4th
7. Vegas Golden Knights (40-27-5) ▲
The addition of Mark Stone has taken an already dangerous Golden Knights team to the next level. Vegas has posted an 8-1 record since the trade deadline and has allowed just 13 goals over its last seven contests. Marc-Andre Fleury's been sensational in the month of March, going 5-0-0 with a .975 save percentage.
Previously: 11th
8. Carolina Hurricanes (39-25-7)
Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty
The Hurricanes keep inching closer to ending the NHL's longest playoff drought. They're 7-2-1 in their last ten contests, haven't lost consecutive games in regulation since Jan. 18, and hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Previously: 8th
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (39-24-10) ▲
With spring fast approaching, it's officially Sidney Crosby season. The longtime Penguins captain is on a tear with eight goals and 19 points over his last 12 games. However, Pittsburgh endured a rough weekend, getting run over by the Blues on Saturday, blowing a lead and falling to the Flyers in overtime Sunday, and then losing Evgeni Malkin to a week-to-week injury.
Previously: 10th
10. Winnipeg Jets (42-25-4) ▼
After going 5-3 during a tough eight-game stretch against current playoff teams, the Jets are battle-tested ahead of the postseason. Blake Wheeler continues to lead by example with seven goals over his last seven games, while Patrik Laine is showing signs of life at the right time.
Previously: 9th
11. New York Islanders (42-23-7) ▼
The Islanders have struggled to find the net lately, mustering two goals or fewer in seven of their last 11 contests. Robin Lehner's potential return to the crease this week is a promising development, although Thomas Greiss has done an excellent job in his absence. New York's final 10 gameswon't be easy, with six coming on the road and eight against potential playoff teams.
Previously: 7th
12. Arizona Coyotes (36-30-6) ▲
Norm Hall / National Hockey League / Getty
The Coyotes have seven wins in their last ten games, and it's been a complete team effort by Rick Tocchet's squad. No player on the roster's even hit the 20-goal mark this season, and only Clayton Keller has broken 40 points.
Previously: 17th
13. Nashville Predators (41-27-5) ▼
The Predators have traded wins and losses since the All-Star break, failing to put together a winning streak longer than two games. But with five of their next six contests coming against current playoff teams, the Preds have an excellent chance to up their game and build some momentum for the postseason.
Previously: 12th
14. Dallas Stars (37-29-6) ▲
The Stars have won five of their last eight contests, largely thanks to Ben Bishop's outstanding work between the pipes. Before departing with an injury last week against the Wild, Bishop had pushed his ongoing shutout streak to a franchise-record 230 minutes, 53 seconds.
Previously: 19th
15. Columbus Blue Jackets (40-28-4) ▲
Matt Duchene's scored two goals in his last three games for the Blue Jackets, who've earned points in four of their past five. Columbus also has the inside track for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot, but seven of the club's final 10 games will be on the road.
Previously: 18th
16. St. Louis Blues (37-27-8) ▼
The Blues have dropped four of five contests, including matchups against the Senators, Sabres, and Coyotes. Those defeats could come back to haunt them as they try to maintain their grip on a postseason position.
Previously: 13th
17. Philadelphia Flyers (35-29-8) ▼
The Flyers remain alive in the playoff race, and getting rookie goaltender Carter Hart back from injury should help, but it will still be a tall task to punch a postseason ticket. Philadelphia sits six points out with just 10 games left.
18. Montreal Canadiens (37-28-7) ▼
Things are not going well in Montreal right now. Andrew Shaw called out teammates on Thursday night, and the Canadiens have now dropped four of their last five.
Previously: 15th
19. Florida Panthers (32-28-12) ▲
Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / Getty
The Panthers saw their four-game winning streak snapped Sunday, but rookie goalie Sam Montembeault has shown something in his first six NHL appearances. Another hot streak would help Florida's playoff chances, but this team might be running out of time.
Previously: 21st
20. Minnesota Wild (34-30-9) ▼
Minnesota's still hanging around in the Western Conference wild-card race, but with the Coyotes and Blackhawks coming on strong, and the Avalanche not going away, the pressure's squarely on the Wild to keep up. Losing four of their past five games didn't help.
Previously: 14th
21. Chicago Blackhawks (32-30-9) ▲
Corey Crawford's stellar play has helped Chicago reel off five straight wins, and the veteran goaltender has allowed only three goals combined over his last four appearances. Here come the Hawks, indeed.
Previously: 23rd
22. Edmonton Oilers (32-33-7) ▲
Connor McDavid's heroics lifted the Oilers to a big win over the Coyotes on Saturday night, but Edmonton couldn't keep up with the Golden Knights on Sunday. The Oilers' season isn't over, but they'll need quite a run over the final 10 games to have any shot at the postseason.
Previously: 24th
23. Colorado Avalanche (31-29-12) ▼
Head coach Jared Bednar publicly roasted his Avalanche after a crushing loss to the lowly Ducks on Friday, and they responded with a much-needed victory over the Devils on Sunday. However, Colorado still has work to do.
Previously: 20th
24. Buffalo Sabres (31-32-9) ▼
The Sabres snapped a seven-game losing streak with a shootout win Sunday, but they failed to score a single goal in three consecutive contests during the skid and have been in a downward spiral for months.
Previously: 22nd
25. Vancouver Canucks (30-32-10) ▲
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Elias Pettersson and Jacob Markstrom have provided Canucks fans with some optimism of late, but it's of the long-term variety. Vancouver remains near the basement of the Western Conference and would need to leapfrog several teams to make the playoffs.
Previously: 26th
26. Anaheim Ducks (30-35-9) ▲
The Ducks are on a 6-3-0 run and have gone 9-9-0 since general manager Bob Murray fired head coach Randy Carlyle and took over behind the bench. Anaheim probably isn't playoff bound, but there have been positive signs down the stretch.
Previously: 30th
27. New York Rangers (28-31-13) ▼
Pavel Buchnevich has shown promise with five goals in his last eight games, while four of them have come at even strength. Beyond that, though, the Rangers have just one win in their last 10 contests and are essentially playing out the string.
Previously: 25th
28. New Jersey Devils (27-37-9) ▼
With the Devils sitting in the basement of the Metropolitan Division and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, it's somewhat surprising that they haven't ruled out a return for Taylor Hall before season's end. On the other hand, fans in New Jersey could use a reason to tune in.
Previously: 27th
29. Los Angeles Kings (25-38-8) ▼
The Kings entered Sunday's action with the worst goal differential in the NHL, and they've won only two of their last 10 games. There's not much hockey to be excited about in Southern California these days.
Previously: 28th
30. Ottawa Senators (25-41-6) ▲
Sometimes, a squad without anything on the line plays looser than a contender, and that was evident in Ottawa's win over Toronto on Saturday. However, the victory was only a small consolation for the NHL's worst team.
Previously: 31st
31. Detroit Red Wings (25-37-10) ▼
Red Wings fans don't have much incentive to watch their team's final 10 games, especially now that top prospect Filip Zadina has been sent back to Grand Rapids. At least they can look forward to the draft lottery.
The Dallas Stars goaltender poke checked Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson on a penalty shot and let go of his stick in the process.
By rule, a goal is awarded if the netminder is deemed to have tossed his stick on a penalty shot.
Earlier this month, Alex Ovechkin was given a goal upon review after New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev hurled his stick on a shootout attempt.
