What was the worst call by a ref in NHL history?

[amnesiac]

Taking everything into consideration (the call/non-call itself, importance in the game/series, etc).... What was, in your opinion, the worst call by a ref in NHL history?

you can also include Olympics and Canada Cups.


Off the top of my head, most recently just about 1 year ago, VGK vs SJ, the 5 min major to Eakin

Duchene's goal vs NSH that was almost 2 feet offside (regular season), 2013

Gelinas' "what MIGHT have been Cup winning goal" 2004 game 6- CGY vs TB

Brett Hull toe in the crease Cup winner 1999 game 6 - BUF vs DAL

Kovalev dive, Van Hellemond disallowing a goal by Sakic in 1995 Game 4 - QUE vs NYR.... Van Hellemond was later fined even!

Gretzky's non-called high stick on Gilmour 1993 game 6 - TOR vs LA

 

[JT Kreider]

 

[4EDM14OIL93]

Gelinas “goal” never crossed the line

 

[Anglesmith]

Taking everything into consideration (the call/non-call itself, importance in the game/series, etc).... What was, in your opinion, the worst call by a ref in NHL history?

you can also include Olympics and Canada Cups.


Off the top of my head, most recently just about 1 year ago, VGK vs SJ, the 5 min major to Eakin

Gelinas' "what should have been Cup winning goal" 2004 game 6- CGY vs TB

Brett Hull toe in the crease Cup winner 1999 game 6 - BUF vs DAL

Van Hellemond disallowing a goal by Sakic in 1995 Game 4 - QUE vs NYR.... Van Hellemond was later fined even!

Gretzky's non-called high stick on Gilmour 1993 game 7 - TOR vs LA

Whether or not the puck was in, there is zero argument that the Gelinas goal was a blown call of any kind by the on ice officials.

 

[amnesiac]

Whether or not the puck was in, there is zero argument that the Gelinas goal was a blown call of any kind by the on ice officials.

it was still a missed call... close or not. He couldve gone to check after the whistle, no?

 

[Deplorable Lenny]

Gelinas “goal” never crossed the line

And here comes an Oilers VS Flames bashfest.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

History is tough... but that utter abomination by the officials in that Game 7 between SJ and Vegas comes to mind. Playoff altering.

 

[SpoolCat]

When Kesler held Talbots pads open

 

[Anglesmith]

it was still a missed call... close or not. He couldve gone to check after the whistle, no?

Yes, but from both referees' vantage points, this looked no different than any other save. This is why these days the war room sounds the buzzer if a potential goal needs to be reviewed. It's not always visible live.

 

[My3Sons]

Not calling pass interference against LA in the NFC championship game the year prior. So bad it bled over to hockey from football.

 

[Sadekuuro]

it was still a missed call... close or not. He couldve gone to check after the whistle, no?

It's not a "missed call" unless you can conclusively demonstrate it was across the line.

 

[John Eichel da GOAT]

Sharks/Knights AINEFC

Then the hand pass later in that series. WTF

 

[Hockeyfanforever]

1998 Stanley cup final playoffs Game 2 Detroit vs Washington where it was either a two line pass or Icing went uncalled and everyone thought the play was dead so the Washington player shot it into the Net. Mind u Detroit came back and won the Game but if they hadn’t oh boy I have watched it over a dozen times and still can’t believe it went uncalled even the commentators were like wtf

 

[Demandedace]

1998 Stanley cup final playoffs Game 2 Detroit vs Washington where it was either a two line pass or Icing went uncalled and everyone thought the play was dead so the Washington player shot it into the Net. Mind u Detroit came back and won the Game but if they hadn’t oh boy I have watched it over a dozen times and still can’t believe it went uncalled even the commentators were like wtf

Had no impact on anything with the series though - the Wings still absolutely pulverized the Caps regardless haha

 

[amnesiac]

It's not a "missed call" unless you can conclusively demonstrate it was across the line.

I thought it was pretty much a fact that it was across

 

[amnesiac]

Yes, but from both referees' vantage points, this looked no different than any other save. This is why these days the war room sounds the buzzer if a potential goal needs to be reviewed. It's not always visible live.

ok, I understand its not the ref's fault for being where he was at that time, so its not a blown call in that sense.

 

[Cloned]

I thought it was pretty much a fact that it was across

I remember watching that game in a bar. As an Oilers fan, I've never been so happy at a ref's incompetence.

 

[Sadekuuro]

I thought it was pretty much a fact that it was across

It's unclear due to the camera angle and the fact that it's not flat on the ice.

 

[CaptBrannigan]

The myth of this Gelinas goal needs to be put to bed.
1) it’s almost always referenced as a “Cup winning goal”. This is far from a guarantee, the incident did not happen in OT as I commonly see stated.
2) There is ZERO evidence it went in. Even the models constructed later show that it wasn’t. And while this is more of the anecdotal variety, Iginla was quite, uh let’s say “demonstrative” with the refs. I would think he definitely would have kept up his habit of complaining if they thought it was in.
3) Even if it crosses the line, we’ve all seen less of a purposeful redirect by a skate called back before and since. Additionally, I can’t help but see Saprykin all over Khabibulin’s back. Seems like some interference to me.

Biggest missed call of all time? No.

 

[Iapyi]

The blatant obvious non-arguable cheating flagrant glaring outright overt shameless reffing by Stacey Livingstone [spit] in the 2002 Women's Gold Medal game. The most bias officiating ever seen. Not even the Americans argue it.

edit - oops, just dawned on me that the thread title has NHL in it, my mistake.

 

[Nerowoy nora tolad]

The Kovalev dive AINEC

NORDIQUES PROTEST RANGERS' OT VICTORY

Someone once pointed out a hilarious side effect of this play on the impending Quebec separation referendum where one side was hurt due to public sentiment over the Nordiques moving. The line went "If Kovalev didnt dive, then Quebec becomes a country" maybe.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

The whole Gelinas thing is so freaking overblown. It's not like I don't understand why the Flames fans are upset. I get it. But discounting the 33 seconds of double overtime in game 6, there were 4 full periods plus the 7 minutes still left in that 3rd period played after the Gelinas sequence. The only goal the Flames scored in that time came in its own controversial fashion when they scored on a PP late in Game 7 when Nolan Pratt was tackled and somehow called for interference.

Imagine going back on a play that wasn't even ruled a goal when it happened and then awarding a goal and (possibly the Cup) when you can't even see the puck over the line on the overhead view. Again. I completely understand why the fans would be upset. But the worst thing that happened was that the game remained tied. The Flames still had every chance to win it all

 

[McRpro]

The blatant obvious non-arguable cheating flagrant glaring outright overt shameless reffing by Stacey Livingstone [spit] in the 2002 Women's Gold Medal game. The most bias officiating ever seen. Not even the Americans argue it.

100%. To this day I still remember the name Stacey Livingston and her atrocious display of biased refereeing that game. Never have I seen anything like that before or since.

 

[boredmale]

2 Minutes for looking so good

 

[WSS11]

Stalock getting shoveled into his goal by a King’s stick. Clear GI or at the very least intent to blow the whistle.