Faceoff Factor

Clarification On The Malkin Breakaway

Jesse Marshall | National Hockey League

May 2, 02:23 PM | Hype this story!

The strange sequence of events that occurred last night leading to an Evgeni Malkin penalty shot have been explained by the NHL this morning after fans all across the league were wondering about the rules used to explain the call on the ice.

For those who didn’t see it, Sidney Crosby pushed the puck up ice to Evgeni Malkin, who beat a stickless Daniel Girardi on a breakaway. Malkin, with a clear path to the goaltender, was pushed from behind by Girardi. Malkin fell and slid into Lundqvist. Lundqvist then entered the net with the puck underneath him before the net came off its moorings. The call was ruled no goal, and Malkin would eventually miss the penalty shot.

Initially, we thought that the call was ruled no goal because the camera angles were inconclusive, however, today the NHL Network revealed what ruling the referee’s used during the sequence.

NHL Rule 78.5

In the event that a goalkeeper has been pushed into the net together with the puck after making a stop, the goal will be disallowed. If applicable, appropriate penalties will be assessed.

So, there you have it. Malkin impeded the goaltenders ability to save the puck and the puck entered the net with Lundqvist, thus relegating it no goal.

But what about the rule that bit Daniel Girardi?

NHL Rule 44.1

Checking from Behind: A check from behind is a check delivered on a player who is not aware of the impending hit, therefore unable to protect or defend himself, and contact is made on the back part of the body. When a player intentionally turns his body to create contact with his back, no penalty shall be assessed.

So there you have it. Girardi commited a penalty and the Malkin goal was surely no-goal based on the NHL rules.

Game 5 between the Penguins and Rangers will be this Sunday at 2:00 P.M. on NBC.