Nick Schultz stood at the Flyers' bench looking concerned, just watching as his goal on the Sony Jumbotron was being replayed for the crowd.
He was also keeping an eye at the officials as they huddle at the scorer’s bench.
Their “good goal” became “no goal,” during the Flyers' 3-2 overtime loss to Calgary on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center (see game story).
“I was just coming down the side and went to the net,” Schultz said of his third-period goal that appeared to tie the game at 2-2. “The puck was there. I don’t know if I got pushed or whatever.”
Johhny Hockey — Johnny Gaudreau, that is — cross-checked him into goalie Karri Ramo.
“It ended going in the net,” Schultz said. “I guess they figured it wasn’t a push it was interference, so it’s no goal. It didn’t matter; we came back and scored a tie up regardless."
Yes, but that goal would have tied it and Mark Streit’s which followed would have won it for the Flyers in regulation.
Schultz initially thought all was fine.
“I saw the ref in the corner pointing that it was a goal, so I thought it was fine,” he said. “I thought it was a goal. I don’t know what the ruling is on it, but I guess they decided there was contact so it was no goal.”
Late after the game, the Philadelphia Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association appealed to the NHL for a detailed explanation since access was denied at the arena to speak to the officials.
Here’s the response from Stephen Walkom, the NHL Director of Officiating:
Question: We wanted to know why the play was ruled no goal due to incidental contact and was unreviewable.
“That [incidental contact/no goal] is one of the things we’ve been doing a little more this year. I would say it’s happened 20 or 30 times. ...
“Chris [Rooney] made a call of no goal. They [on-ice officials] met, contacted someone here, probably Chris King, and he told them it’s not a reviewable play ... incidental contact.
“We think it’s a good process — in order to get the right call. We use all the resources available to make the right decision.”
The Flyers did not agree.
Jakub Voracek, one of three players tied for the league-lead in scoring, was incensed.
“It’s a game-tying goal, biggest goal of the season,” Voracek said. “I mean it’s a goal, I don’t know how in today’s hockey, how they can overview it or look at a goal from the video or do something.
“That’s the biggest goal of the season it was disallowed and I have no idea why. He got crosschecked from behind, he hit the puck first I’m not sure what the refs saw. … He got crosschecked, what was he supposed to do? He hit the puck first; I think the puck was in the net before he hit the goalie too.”
It turned out to be pretty decisive in a playoff race.
Yet the other side is, the Flyers poor start — another sloppy, disinterested opening period — was just as critical for a team that is supposed to be desperate to catch Boston in the wild-card chase.
“It’s not good,” Sean Couturier said. “We’ve been letting too many points lately slip by us. I mean it might catch us up at the end of the year one or two points out.
“That’s what made the difference but we can’t really think about that now. Just focus on the next game.”
Signed
The Flyers signed forward prospect Tyrell Goulbourne to a three-year, entry-level contract (see story).
He was the club’s third-round pick in the 2013 NHL draft.
His deal is worth $3.54 million if all bonuses are achieved. At the very least, he will earn $1.65 million.
The 6-0, 200-pound left wing is fifth in scoring with Kelowna in the WHL with 17 goals, 21 assists for 38 points in 55 games.
In 268 career games with Kelowna, Goulbourne has 55 goals and 63 assists for 118 points along with 454 penalty minutes.