Edmonton Oilers still upset about non-call that potentially cost them their playoff lives, should they be though?
Playoff hockey is a different breed of hockey altogether. The rules favor teams who are willing to play more aggressively. With the loosening of the rules, referees are often less willing to impact the outcome of the game by making a call.
However, by choosing not to call penalties officials are impacting the game just as much. During Game 6 of the Oilers versus Golden Knights series, a high stick went uncalled and Oilers fans are still upset about it.
With the Oilers trailing by 2 goals, Mattias Ekholm was caught with an errant stick that struck him directly in the face.
Emotions continued to run high with many feeling like this cost the Oilers and their powerplay an opportunity to tie the game and possibly extended their playoff lives. But do the Oilers and their fans have an argument here?
Rule 60.1:
A «high stick» is one which is carried above the height of the opponent's shoulders.
Players must be in control and responsible for their stick. However, a player is permitted accidental contact on an opponent if the act is committed as a normal windup or follow through of a shooting motion, or accidental contact on the opposing center who is bent over during the course of a face-off.
A wild swing at a bouncing puck would not be considered a normal windup or follow through and any contact to an opponent above the height of the shoulders shall be penalized accordingly.
So now the question remains, do the Edmonton Oilers have a real gripe or did the refs get it right?
| POLL | ||
Did the referee get the call right or wrong? | ||
| Right, it's a follow through | 60 | 33.7 % |
| Wrong, it's a high stick | 62 | 34.8 % |
| Just call it to review it, so you get it right | 56 | 31.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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