Watch: Sharks' goal disallowed due to high-sticking penalty
Worse overturned call than the Kentucky Derby 🙄 pic.twitter.com/1w2qqbEBet
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) May 5, 2019
A San Jose Sharks goal was taken away in controversial fashion Saturday night in Game 5 of their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche.
Kevin Labanc's first-period marker was waved off because referee Tim Peel handed Sharks forward Timo Meier a high-sticking penalty seconds before the goal. However, replays appeared to show Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie lifting Meier's stick into Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen's face.
Making matters worse for San Jose, here's where Peel was when he made the call:
— Martin Biron (@martybiron43) May 5, 2019
And here's where the other referee, Marc Joannette, was positioned. He didn't call a penalty.
"Hi, I'm Marc Joannette. That's me signaling a goal was scored. I was literally standing a few feet away from where a high sticking infraction may have happened. I didn't call anything. My partner Tim Peel is standing basically at center ice and made the call. He's the best." pic.twitter.com/s8LRqKxKx4
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 5, 2019
The NHL's explanation simply stated the penalty was called before the goal, but the league didn't provide further rationale.
From NHL: At 7:04 of the First Period in the Avalanche/Sharks game, the Referees informed the Situation Room that prior to the puck entering the Colorado net a minor penalty had been assessed to Timo Meier for high sticking. No goal San Jose. #Avs
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) May 5, 2019