Brind'Amour: 'I would've bet my life' interference challenge would work
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour had all the confidence in the world when he challenged the Boston Bruins' game-tying tally in Game 4 for goalie interference.
"I would've bet my life on that one," Brind'Amour told reporters following his team's 5-2 loss, according to Bally Sports.
The Hurricanes held a 2-1 lead late in the second period. With the Bruins on the power play, Brad Marchand backhanded the puck into netminder Antti Raanta. The puck ended up in the crease between his legs. Contact appeared to be made with Raanta's left pad and Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk ended up scoring in the ensuing chaos.
Raanta can't find the puck. DeBrusk spots it and buries it. Good goal after review pic.twitter.com/asw7l6DbNV
— Patrick Donnelly (@PatDonn12) May 8, 2022
After review, the goal was upheld. The league found DeBrusk was making a play on the loose puck in the crease and cited the fact incidental contact is permitted.
Here's a closer look at the play:
I don’t see this as “incidental,” Billy. pic.twitter.com/38Hk20M03H
— Mike Solarte (@MikeSolarte) May 8, 2022
"It's tough because it's clearly, especially the view that we saw after, it's in between his pads loose. I'm all good with that. But the guy came in from the side, pushes his pads, squirts the puck out, and taps it in," Brind'Amour explained.
"(It's) a little different to me if the guy came in from the front and was actually playing the puck. You can't play the puck when it's in between his legs from the side and knock the goalie sideways to turn it and squirt it out. If you can, then I don't know how (Nino) Niederreiter's goal isn’t a goal in the first game when they said 100% not a goal."
Niederreiter had a goal taken away on a similar play in Game 1. Officials ruled he had made contact with Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark's pads in the process of playing the puck.
Game 4 went from bad to worse for the Hurricanes after the failed challenge. They were forced to go to the penalty kill, which ultimately turned into a five-on-three for the Bruins. Marchand scored on the two-man advantage and the Bruins never relinquished the lead.
"They're too good of a team to just give them goals. We have no chance if we're gonna let that happen," Brind'Amour said.
The Hurricanes sent the Bruins to the power play nine times in Game 4. Carolina initially led the series 2-0 but Boston has now tied it at two games apiece.
Game 5 is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.