NHL admits overturned Avalanche goal should have counted

It likely won't be much consolation for the Colorado Avalanche, but the NHL now says a Colorado goal it disallowed should have been allowed to stand.

The league acknowledged its error Friday.

"Although there was an offside, it occurred prior to the puck clearing the zone which nullifies any goal review related to that offside," the NHL said in a statement Friday. "The entry into the zone immediately prior to the goal was onside, therefore the goal should have counted."

You can watch video of the play here.

What would have been the tying marker for the Avalanche and Mikko Rantanen was challenged by the St. Louis Blues, who felt Sven Andrighetto was offside before the goal was scored.

The NHL's video room in Toronto overturned the call on the ice, citing the fact that Andrighetto was offside.

However, the league's statement Friday confirmed a mistake was made in disallowing it, citing Rule 78.7, which governs which plays can be challenged for an offside infraction.

Goals can't be reviewed for a potential offside call if the puck comes out of the zone and back in again, as it did on Rantanen's goal Thursday night, or if all members of the attacking team clear the attacking zone again between the time of the offside play in question and when the goal is scored, according to the rule.

Had the NHL realized that at the time, the goal would have counted and the Blues would have been assessed a minor penalty as a result of the failed offside challenge.

St. Louis held on for a 4-3 victory Thursday night.