In the fracas that followed after the Kuraly line swarmed Tristan Jarry Friday night, David Backes considering raising his hand to his ear — mimicking Auston Matthews’ signature goal celebration.
Given the opportunity, Backes might have opted for cartwheels — with his jam at the crease handing him his first regular-season goal since April 8.
But before the commencements of any festivities, the conference of officials huddled near the crease killed the mood rather quickly.
With no goal signed on the ice following the fracas out in front, an extended video review did not change Backes’ fortunes — with the veteran’s tally wiped off the map.
The league’s explanation following the game stated that there was no conclusive evidence upon review that Backes’ shot crossed the goal line, with the final call made in accordance of Rule 31.2 — which states: in part, that "The referee may deem the play to be stopped slightly prior to the whistle actually being blown. The fact that the puck may come loose or cross the goal line prior to the sound of the whistle has no bearing if the Referee has ruled that the play had been stopped prior to this happening."
While the puck did manage to cross the goal line, the case could be made that Sean Kuraly’s second jab after the whistle was blown might have been what knocked it home.
“I have to trust it,” Bruce Cassidy said when asked if he believes the league viewed the play from every possible angle. “It’s Toronto, so it goes there. You’ve got to assume they are. I haven’t even looked at it yet.”
Regardless of the factors that led to the NHL’s final ruling,
was quick to acknowledge that the Black and Gold were once again on the wrong side of a call determined by video review.
“We’re getting used to it,” Cassidy said. “It kind of rolls off our back. It sounded like it was going to be a good goal. Sean Kuraly looked like he poked the goalie’s pad, so it looked like it would be kind of a moot point if we challenged, but it didn’t go our way.”
Less than a week earlier, the Black and Gold were on the wrong side of another call against Arizona — with a tally from
Matt Grzelcyk
waved off after the Coyotes challenged for goaltender interference.
For a player in desperate need of some production, Friday’s call very well could have been another frustrating setback for Backes. But in a game where a scoring stretch can be sparked by a simple fortuitous bounce of the puck, the veteran didn’t dwell too much on it.
"I don’t know what angles they had or didn’t have," Backes said. "I guess in the moment you are hoping it counts, say a couple prayers on the bench, but when it’s no goal, it’s no goal. So, I mean you can argue till your blue in the face, you got to move on and make the next play. So, I tried to do that.”
B’s not taking Atlantic Division lightly
Going into the 2018-19 campaign, the Atlantic Division was already expecting to be a dogfight at the top of the standings.
Boston returned its established veteran corps and plenty of young talent following a 112-point season in 17-18. The 113-point Lightning had the same pieces in place and a full year of
Ryan McDonagh
in the fold. And a Maple Leafs club that took the Bruins to seven games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs added one of the biggest free-agent coups in recent memory in
John Tavares
.
Points were expected to come at a premium among the big guns in the division, while rebuilding clubs like the Red Wings and Sabres were expected to be easy pickings.
And while clubs like the Panthers (19 points) and Senators (21 points) have struggled early and often, young teams such as the Red Wings (6-3-1 in past 10 games) have proven to be a thorn in the side of many in the Atlantic.
Meanwhile, the upstart Sabres — lifted by the addition of
Jeff Skinner
(18 goals) and an actual solid supporting cast to build around
Jack Eichel
(28 points) have gone full scorched earth — winning nine straight games and sitting in first place in the entire Eastern Conference with 34 points (16-6-2).
Yeeeesh.
Given the state of Boston’s roster, the Black and Gold have no reason to hang their heads with points in five straight games (3-0-2).
But things can go south in a hurry in the NHL, something that Cassidy is well aware of — especially given the increased competition within Boston’s own division.
"Head coaching in the National league, the next game is always scary. Until you've been around a long time and even then, it might be,” Cassidy said on Friday. “I don't know if scary is the right word, but we're always a little nervous — is our team ready to play? I thought against Detroit, even though we got a point, the third period was not our type of hockey. Tuukka made some real good saves. We broke down a lot.
“We've got to get better in that area or teams are going to eat us alive. ... Firepower teams like Pittsburgh, Montreal and Toronto. We were mindful of that and talked about that this morning. Listen, we're trying to do it one game at a time and then maybe the next game, (Bergeron) and (Chara) are ready to play. That's kind of the way we look at it. ... I think when you're healthy, you're looking more big picture.”
Things continue to go sour for Chiarelli in Edmonton
For as much as
Don Sweeney
gets a knocked for the 2015 NHL Draft — in which he passed on players like Barzal, Connor and Boeser (**cough cough but also snagged
Jake DeBrusk) —
things could always be much, much worse for the Bruins in terms of their long-term prospects.
Sure, Boston’s veteran core of Bergeron, Krejci and Marchand are all now in their 30s, but Boston has the mix of young and old to remain competitive for a somewhat viable window.
Things could always been much more dire — as evidenced by what has transpired under
Peter Chiarelli
’s watch in Edmonton.
Yes,
Connor McDavid
is a generational talent on pace for another 100-point campaign with 32 points through just 22 games. But even the skill of McDavid can’t seem to lift the sinking ship that is the Oilers, with Edmonton stuck in the mud with a record of 10-10-2.
An organization with talent up front in McDavid and
Leon Draisaitl
should not be in line to miss the postseason for third time in No. 97’s four years in the NHL, and yet, here we are.
And Chiarelli — who dealt a Hart Trophy winner in
Taylor Hall
inked
Milan Lucic
to a six-year contract that will pay him an AAV of $6 million through 2023 — should shoulder most of the blame.
With
Todd McLellan
relieved of his head coaching duties this week — in favor of the once-retired
Ken Hitchcock
— Chiarelli stands as the next domino to fall if the Oilers can’t right the ship in time.
As this point, the former Bruins GM’s chances don’t look too good.
