If Game 1 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals was a sign of things to come, then this second round series is going to be a doozy. And, heck, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin only had one point between them, so odds are this gets even better.
But the opening game, won 4-3 by the Caps, ended on a somewhat controversial note. In overtime, Washington’s T.J. Oshie made a quick wraparound attempt and tried to tuck the puck between the post and Matt Murray‘s pads. In full speed it’s impossible to tell if the puck crossed the line. On review…it’s still pretty darn close.
The initial call on the ice from the refs was a goal, but it was immediately reviewed. The overhead camera doesn’t catch how far the puck goes because Murray’s pad is in the way. This is the best angle and it seems the right call was made.
Since the puck was on the ice, and not in the air, the parallax view does not apply.
But if you ask Murray, he’s not so sure the refs got it correct.
“I don’t know how the ref that called it a goal could have seen it from his angle. I think I had it.”
Murray stopped 31 shots compared to Braden Holtby’s 42, but it does look like this one squeaked past him by the smallest of margins. And, c’mon, it’s not as though he was going to admit the puck got past him, right?
Naturally, on the other side, Oshie said he initially thought the goal did go in.
Game 2 goes Saturday night at 8:00 on CBC.