Cooper says OT winner shouldn't have counted, replays appear to show too many men
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper believes Nazem Kadri's overtime winner that gave the Colorado Avalanche a 3-1 series lead on Wednesday should not have decided the game.
Cooper did not specify exactly why. He only took one question during an odd postgame press conference in which he gave an emotional two-minute answer.
“I'm gonna have to speak tomorrow… You’re gonna see what I mean when you see the winning goal. My heart breaks for the players because we probably should still be playing”
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) June 23, 2022
- An emotional Jon Cooper after only taking one question post-game. pic.twitter.com/1XHPHRwD5x
Cooper may have a legitimate gripe, though. It appears the Avalanche had too many men on the ice during the game-winner.
Looks like six #GoAvsGo players are on the ice for the game-winning goal vs. #GoBolts https://t.co/bE9I2DYe2L pic.twitter.com/f0H650bwca
— Mari Faiello (@faiello_mari) June 23, 2022
The apparent missed call was further illustrated on video.
This is the most damming footage I’ve seen yet.
— Kailey Mizelle (@KaileyMizelle) June 23, 2022
As Nazem Kadri (the winning goal scorer) gets on the ice it takes MacKinnon over 5 seconds to get back to the bench and he’s clearly much further than 5 feet away. pic.twitter.com/9ede4C6ZCU
The initial game sheet noted there were six skaters and a goalie on the ice at the time of the goal.
Game sheet says there were six Avalanche players on the ice when Kadri’s OT winner was scored. pic.twitter.com/kufhJ8X0hm
— Mike Stephens (@mikeystephens81) June 23, 2022
The NHL later updated the sheet by removing Erik Johnson's No. 6 - thereby reducing Colorado's total at the time to five skaters and a goalie - despite the photo and video evidence.
The league then explained the on-ice officials didn't believe it was a too many men infraction at the time, and those types of plays aren't subject to video review.
Statement from NHL Hockey Operations on OT Game 4-winning goal: pic.twitter.com/U4dXa2GDTe
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) June 23, 2022
The Lightning will hope to keep their dreams of a three-peat alive in Game 5 on Friday.