By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Friday, October 22, 2010
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The Lightning looks to the scoreboard for answers after the referee says a video
review shows the Islanders scored in OT.
TAMPA — Mike Murphy, the NHL's vice president of hockey operations, said the
10-minute video review during the Lightning's game Thursday night with the
Islanders was one of the longest he has experienced.
"No question it's disappointing it took that long," Murphy said.
Think, then, how Tampa Bay felt after the review, done in the league's Toronto
offices, gave New York a 3-2 overtime victory on Matt Moulson's goal 1:56 into
overtime at the St. Pete Times Forum.
The review overturned the on-ice ruling that goaltender Dan Ellis made a
stupendous, behind-the-back, swatting glove save of a floating puck.
It also took some of the focus off that Tampa Bay (4-1-1), did not hold a 2-1
lead built on Sean Bergenheim's breakaway goal in the first period and Marty
St. Louis' goal 4:44 into the second.
The Lightning got a point for the regulation tie, but it was little consolation.
"I don't know how they saw it cleanly," Ellis said of the video review. "When
it takes that long, you would think it would go the other direction, but
obviously they saw something we haven't yet.
"From my vantage point, (the puck) did not look in, but maybe they
freeze-framed a few different ones at the same time and saw it inside my glove.
I have no idea."
Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said the NHL got it right: "I saw it
from the side angle. It looked like the right call."
Said Islanders coach Scott Gordon: "Our video coordinator told us on the bench
that he saw it and thought it was 100 percent in."
But 10 minutes for the review?
"We were pretty sure after three minutes," Murphy said, "but we wanted to get
all the replays."
He said a side view from New York's MSG Network showed the puck floating over
the line before Ellis swatted it away. See it at video.lightning.nhl.com.
"We're disappointed it took that long," Murphy said. "But once we started, we
wanted to make sure we got it right. That's the most important thing. We waited
to see if there was a better replay, a clearer one."
And because the NHL is beholden to replays provide by entities televising the
game — in this case, MSG and Sun Sports — Murphy and his crew waited as the
crowd at the Times Forum booed in impatience.
Lightning coach Guy Boucher was more upset with his players.
"We didn't come out in the first period, and that's all I was worried about,"
he said. "We didn't skate, we weren't first on the puck, we didn't battle, half
our bench wasn't there. It's unacceptable."
Especially unacceptable was how the Lightning failed, getting one shot, during
a two-minute five-on-three power play with the score tied 2-2 in the second.
As for the length of the video review, Boucher said it did not bother him. "If
it did, then I'm not doing my job."
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home
telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: forever1940.blogspot.com and follow me on
Twitter @ehornick
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