After an extremely lengthy review by goal judges in Toronto, the New York Islanders were awarded a game winning overtime goal to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 at the St. Pete Times Forum Thursday night.
In heavy traffic around the Tampa Bay net, Mike Mottau hit the puck, which fluttered and deflected off a stick towards the goal. Lightning goalie Dan Ellis reached behind him and appeared to swat the puck away with a back-hand motion. That occurred at 1:56 into overtime but play continued until there was 1:32 remaining. Play was then stopped for about ten minutes while video of the play was reviewed by NHL officials in Toronto who eventually ruled that the puck crossed the goal line.
“I’ve never seen a review take that long, at least not for a hockey goal. Maybe for a final exam or something like that but not a hockey goal” — Dan Ellis
Lightning coach Guy Boucher was far more concerned about his team’s play earlier in the game than he was about the review process or its outcome.
“I could care less about the review. We didn’t show up in the first period and that’s what bothers me. I plan to address it with some individuals and that will happen before the next game”
The Lightning will travel to Atlanta to play the Thrashers tomorrow night.
FINAL STATS
FACE-OFFS
Islanders 28 / 57 (49%)
Lightning 29 / 57 (51%)
SHOTS:
Islanders 3 / 25
Lightning 2 / 30
PENALTIES:
Islanders 4
1st (Mottau, 2 minutes, holding @ 11:23)
2nd (Sim, 2 minutes, roughing @ 13:38)
2nd (Gillies, 2 minutes, cross checking @ 13:38)
3rd (Konopka, 2 minutes, boarding @ 8:33)
Lightning 5
2nd (Bergenheim, 2 minutes, holding the stick @ 2:40)
2nd (Malone, 2 minutes, roughing @ 8:24)
2nd (Stamkos, 2 minutes, cross checking @ 9:46)
2nd (Lecavalier, 2 minutes, tripping @ 16:55)
3rd (Kubina, 2 minutes, tripping @ 19:52)
POWER PLAYS:
Islanders 1 / 5
Lightning 0 / 4
SCORING:
1st Islanders – Grabner (2) (Niederreiter, Weight) 2:15
1st Lightning – Bergenheim (2) (Purcell, Hedman) 18:05
2nd Lightning – St. Louis (2) (Stamkos, Lundin) 4:44
2nd Islanders (PP) – Parenteau (2) (Wisniewski, Tavares 10:00
OT Islanders – Moulson (4) (Nielsen, Mottau) 1:56