Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella is standing firm after challenging a potential Vegas goal in the Stanley Cup Final, telling reporters he’d make the same call “10 out of 10 times.” He was clearly frustrated after the overtime loss, giving only short one or two-word answers to almost every question except that one.
The fiery bench boss probably knows he wasn’t likely to get the call. It was a coin flip at best, with the NHL not keen on overturning the call on the ice, which was a definitive no-goal. Still, he tried. The call stood, Vegas took a penalty for delay of game, and the Carolina Hurricanes finally capitalized on a power play. That was the comeback the Hurricanes needed, and likely the kickstarter for the power play, which scored again in overtime to even the series.
Tortorella got it wrong. His comments suggested he’d be willing to get it wrong again, showing zero regret in his post-game comments. Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said that a no-goal call in Game 1 made him aware that “the unwritten rule is that you better be 100%.”
“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie. Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie. and it goes through him to the other sides. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times,” Tortorella said.
The incident added extra drama to an already intense Stanley Cup Final matchup. Game 1 was a one-goal loss for the Hurricanes. It was an instant classic. Game 2 was just as entertaining. Brind’Amour said of the last 10 minutes, “You can’t get much more exciting hockey than that. It was up and down, up and down.” Carolina was down 2-0 early and looked dead in the water. Logan Stankhoven got the team going with a goal, and the energy picked up. The failed call only helped Carolina.
The Hurricanes took a 3-2 lead, and Mark Stone scored late in the third period to tie the game. It was Seth Jarvis who ended it in extra time.
The hero for Vegas in Game 1, Brayden McNabb, had to leave the game after taking a shot high and in the face. McNabb’s visor caught at least some of the initial impact, but it looked like the puck still caught him, and he went to a nearby hospital and didn’t return. There isn’t an update on his condition as of this writing.
As the series continues, all eyes will be on how Carolina performs now that they have the momentum. Did Tortorella’s ppor decision turn the tide?
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