Cam Ward removes own mask as Rangers shot enters net (gif and rules in OP)

[tp71]

This is an absolute joke.

Goal should have counted, and they should've given Ward a penalty to boot.

The NHL is terrible at cracking down on players who abuse the rules and it just deteriorates the quality of the league.

But the problem here is Ward didn't do anything against the rules to be penalized for.

 

[Machinehead]

Ward's an idiot and a genius at the same time.

I wouldn't say Ward's an idiot. He wasn't really watching the play, but it's hard to say. If he did it because his helmet was broken then he did what he felt the correct protocol was to keep him safe. Even if he did it because he felt he was in trouble positionally, you do what you gotta do to gain an edge.

Either way, my issue was with the ref not Ward, because Ward was doing what he felt he had to.

 

[GOAT AINEC]

Ward said that the mask just fell off to the media lololol.

 

[Machinehead]

But the problem here is Ward didn't do anything against the rules to be penalized for.

Removing your mask is against the rules. The referee can, if he wants to do so, issue a delay of game penalty.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

Wrong about what?

Wrong about the mask being damaged? No. That turned out to be exactly the case.

Wrong about whether there was a constant scoring chance during that sequence? No. There was definitely a point at which the scoring chance ended, thus making the play dead.

Wrong about his right to call the play dead before the shot? No. That's rule 32.1.

Except the ref didn't blow the play dead until Ward threw his helmet off. What you're saying isn't consistent in regards to what happened. And the ref doesn't have the authority to blow the play dead for a broken strap.

So you don't need proof for some reason? Just an argument?

How about this -- neither of us can prove that our interpretation is correct. I can only stand on the fact that my interpretation is consistent with the call that was made on the ice.

Again, the fact the ref blew the whistle dead only after Ward threw his helmet off is very telling.

The rules weren't being ignored here, but OK.

All that is required is a clarification in the rulebook that a broken strap is enough for a goalie mask to be considered "off" for the purposes of the no-mask rule. That's the way it's being called anyway, but it ought to be in black and white.

Okay, rule 14.1

"14.1 Adjustment to Clothing or Equipment - Play shall not be stopped nor the game delayed by reasons of adjustments to clothing, equipment, skates or sticks.
The onus of maintaining clothing and equipment in proper condition shall be upon the player. If adjustments are required, the player shall leave the ice and play shall continue with a substitute.

No delay shall be permitted for the repair or adjustment of goalkeeper’s equipment. If adjustments are required, the goalkeeper shall leave the ice and his place shall be taken by the substitute goalkeeper immediately."

This rule is very different from rule 9.5 Rule 9.5 is in regards to a goalie's taking his helmet off deliberately, rule 14.1 is in regards to damaged equipment or equipment in need of adjustment, which is the case of Ward's mask and the point you're arguing. There's nothing in that rule in regards to possession of the puck, so regardless, the play shouldn't have been blown dead. "....Play shall not be stopped...." No ifs, ands, or buts in regards to a broken strap. 9.5 is the only rule in which the ref had authority to blow the play dead, and it's clear he messed up, as when Ward's mask came off, there was an imminent scoring chance.

 

[Helistin]

Shades of Dwayne Roloson.

 

[Bee Sheriff]

The rule is there to protect goalies, it's not a get out of goal free card. Ward had no intention of stopping play until he got in trouble. There was a long delay between the shot that broke the strap and the goal.

That was clearly his first opportunity to remove the helmet.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

That was clearly his first opportunity to remove the helmet.

Regardless of his intentions, the play shouldn't have been stopped. It was plain bad refereeing, and judging by the fact Ward said after the game that the helmet "fell off", you have to at least have it in the back of your mind that he did indeed use it as a get out of a **** situation free card, though it does seem like not much time had passed. I'm more mad at the ref than Ward here.

 

[Bee Sheriff]

Regardless of his intentions, the play shouldn't have been stopped. It was plain bad refereeing, and judging by the fact Ward said after the game that the helmet "fell off", you have to at least have it in the back of your mind that he did indeed use it as a get out of a **** situation free card, though it does seem like not much time had passed. I'm more mad at the ref than Ward here.

Regardless of his intentions those are the rules. Just like when Quick kicked the net off the moorings vs Russia last year. Some rules are just black and white and there's no way around them. If the strap is broken and he takes it off (which he is told he has to) then the play is over.

 

[Duodenum]

Don't think the goal should've counted even if he didn't take his mask off.
The Rangers player was all up in his grill regardless and interfering with the goaltender.

 

[TheTakedown]

Yep. He never lost his mask either. He took it off. I can't find a single rule that says it's ever okay for a goalie to take their mask off.

Pretty sure if a skater did that it would result in a penalty so

 

[MysticLeviathan]

Regardless of his intentions those are the rules. Just like when Quick kicked the net off the moorings vs Russia last year. Some rules are just black and white and there's no way around them. If the strap is broken and he takes it off (which he is told he has to) then the play is over.

No it isn't Reread the rules.

Rule 9.5

9.5 Protective Equipment -- When a goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask and his team has possession of the puck, the play shall be stopped immediately to allow the goalkeeper the opportunity to regain his helmet and/or face mask. When the opposing team has possession of the puck, play shall only be stopped if there is no immediate and impending scoring opportunity. This stoppage of play must be made by the Referee. When play is stopped because the goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask, the ensuing face-off shall take place at one of the defending team’s end zone face-off spots.

When a goalkeeper deliberately removes his helmet and/or face mask in order to secure a stoppage of play, the Referee shall stop play as outlined above and in this case assess the goalkeeper a minor penalty for delaying the game. If the goalkeeper deliberately removes his helmet and/or face mask when the opposing team is on a breakaway, the Referee shall award a penalty shot to the non-offending team. If the goalkeeper deliberately removes his helmet and/or face mask during the course of a penalty shot or shootout attempt, the Referee shall award a goal to the non-offending team.

The bold is the key here. There was an impending scoring chance, as when he took his helmet off, the puck was on its way into the net. The play shouldn't have been stopped.


In regards to the broken strap...

Rule 14.1

14.1 Adjustment to Clothing or Equipment - Play shall not be stopped nor the game delayed by reasons of adjustments to clothing, equipment, skates or sticks.

The onus of maintaining clothing and equipment in proper condition shall be upon the player. If adjustments are required, the player shall leave the ice and play shall continue with a substitute.

No delay shall be permitted for the repair or adjustment of goalkeeper’s equipment. If adjustments are required, the goalkeeper shall leave the ice and his place shall be taken by the substitute goalkeeper immediately.

The play should not have been stopped because of the broken strap. The only reason the ref would've had potential authority to stop the play was because Ward's mask wasn't on, but the fact that his mask was taken off at a time of an impending scoring chance means the ref did NOT have the authority to blow the play dead. The goal sholud've stood. The rule are crystal clear on this matter.

 

[TheNumber4]

That overhead .gif makes it so ****in obvious the right call was made and Ward should get ZERO blame. Everyone who pissed on Ward because they can't properly understand hockey situations or maybe are BLIND should FORMALLY APOLOGIZE in this thread to everyone that read their statement, Ward, and the Ref.

 

[TheTakedown]

Regardless of whether or not disallowing the goal was correct, Ward is a ****ing idiot. It's one thing to throw your mask off to get the refs attention when you know the play isn't coming towards you. It's another thing entirely to do so when a big shot from the point is inbound. Really dangerous.

Not that I would wish that on someone, but there could have been a serious injury there... What the hell was ward thinking

 

[MysticLeviathan]

That overhead .gif makes it so ****in obvious the right call was made and Ward should get ZERO blame. Everyone who pissed on Ward because they can't properly understand hockey situations or maybe are BLIND should FORMALLY APOLOGIZE in this thread to everyone that read their statement, Ward, and the Ref.

Except the right call wasn't made. Read the rules, the ref did not have authority to blow the whistle there, the goal should've counted, and had video replay been available, it would've been a goal.

In the end, it all falls on the ref, because he made the call. Ward did what he did, a very dangerous thing, but it was ultimately the ref who bailed him out and luck that prevented a serious injury. I hope we never see a play like that again.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Except the ref didn't blow the play dead until Ward threw his helmet off.

Again -- the play is dead when the ref decides it's dead. The actual blowing of the whistle is incidental, not determinative.

Okay, rule 14.1

This isn't the operative rule in the case of a goalie mask which is damaged by a shot -- there's no "onus on the player to maintain" his equipment from being shattered by a shot.

It was plain bad refereeing, and judging by the fact Ward said after the game that the helmet "fell off", you have to at least have it in the back of your mind that he did indeed use it as a get out of a **** situation free card

If anything the fact that he remembers it "falling" off, rather than being taken off, implies that it was basically just being held on his head by gravity.

In any case, if he had wanted to prevent a goal on a harmless shot from the point he would have just caught the puck for an easy save... not flop around messing with his mask. There's no reason to think he perceived this as a particularly **** situation compared to a dozen other scoring chances that he stopped in that game.

 

[KCC]

Ward said that the mask just fell off to the media lololol.

Clearly a fly got into the ice and he was swatting at it. Blame the fly.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

This is still going on?

I understand the initial reaction. It was a 2-1 game that the Rangers had dominated, and if not for some stellar play from Ward and a weak goal from Lundqvist, the game would be tied. So having a goal waived off like that can be a kick in the teeth, even if the correct call was made (which I'll let the previous 400+ posts debate).

But come on now. The game's been over for hours, the Rangers still ended up with the win, and the two teams face off again later tonight. Time to move on.

 

[GerbeSonOfGloin]

Basically, what it comes down to is that there's an unwritten rule that mask off = play dead. This is a precedent. Yeah, it's unwritten, but I bet if your player got high-sticked and bled and you didn't get the four minute PP, which is also an unwritten rule, there'd instantly be a thread on the main boards complaining about it and this "Where is it written?! Where is it written?!" sticklerism would magically vanish.

I'd hate this if I were a Rangers fan but what can you do. At least they still won.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

Again -- the play is dead when the ref decides it's dead. The actual blowing of the whistle is incidental, not determinative.

And that's why the call was wrong.

This isn't the operative rule in the case of a goalie mask which is damaged by a shot -- there's no "onus on the player to maintain" his equipment from being shattered by a shot.

Of course there is, just like if a player's skate blade falls off, which I saw I believe last year, maybe it was earlier this year, the guy's blade just came right off his skate and he had to hop on one leg to get to the bench. The play didn't stop for him, the onus was on him. It's no different here.

If anything the fact that he remembers it "falling" off, rather than being taken off, implies that it was basically just being held on his head by gravity.

Or maybe was talking out of his rear and didn't want to get any investigation by the league by blatantly saying he intentionally took off his helmet. It was so clear and obvious from the replay he took it off on purpose, you're grasping for straws here.

In any case, if he had wanted to prevent a goal on a harmless shot from the point he would have just caught the puck for an easy save... not flop around messing with his mask. There's no reason to think he perceived this as a particularly **** situation compared to a dozen other scoring chances that he stopped in that game.

It doesn't change the fact a goal that should've been allowed was waived off. Regardless of Ward's intentions, regardless of whether or not he saw the play or was trying to stop the play, he deliberately took off his helmet and the ref blew the play dead when he shouldn't have, and it resulted in a disallowed tying goal for the Rangers.

I'm not trying to make this a debate with regards to Ward, this debate is how the referee either didn't know the rules or deliberately disregarded them in favor of player safety. According to the rulebook, the goal should've counted due to the circumstances, unfortunately video replay wasn't used, so there was a **** call that went against crystal clear black and white rules. It's not even like the goal that went off the netting, bounced off the back and in, and the refs just missed that, the ref blew the whistle when he shouldn't have and went against the rules. Refs sometimes miss things, like a bad offsides call or blows a play dead because he can't see the puck even though it's still loose, but I don't see how the ref could've messed up that call there. I really hope the league takes a look at this.

 

[ThatGuy22]

Sooo we are going to ignore the obvious it seems.

The ref was going to let the Goaltender interference by Brassard slide, assuming Ward got reset(which happens a lot) as Ward was unable to get reset due to the mask issues he called no goal, due to incidental contact with the goaltender.

I'd bet the same call is made if Ward doesn't toss his mask.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Sooo we are going to ignore the obvious it seems.

The ref was going to let the Goaltender interference by Brassard slide, assuming Ward got reset(which happens a lot) as Ward was unable to get reset due to the mask issues he called no goal, due to incidental contact with the goaltender.

I'd bet the same call is made if Ward doesn't toss his mask.

That was the initial thought, but since the ensuing faceoff was kept inside the Canes defensive zone (as opposed to outside, as it would have been with incidental contact), it had to be the mask.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

Basically, what it comes down to is that there's an unwritten rule that mask off = play dead. This is a precedent. Yeah, it's unwritten, but I bet if your player got high-sticked and bled and you didn't get the four minute PP, which is also an unwritten rule, there'd instantly be a thread on the main boards complaining about it and this "Where is it written?! Where is it written?!" sticklerism would magically vanish.

I'd hate this if I were a Rangers fan but what can you do. At least they still won.

In regards to high-sticking, here's the rule

60.3:

Double-minor Penalty - When a player carries or holds any part of
his stick above the shoulders of the opponent so that injury results,
the Referee shall assess a double-minor penalty for all contact that
causes an injury, whether accidental or careless, in the opinion of the
Referee.

It's not an unwritten rule the way you're making it out to be. Obviously it's open for interpretation, but a cut by definition is an injury, so it makes sense that the ref would give a double minor for it. However, that could also mean, in theory, that if a player accidentally high sticks a guy and the guy ends up getting a concussion, that could warrant a double minor as well. However, the whole "cut from a high stick means a double minor" is in the rule book, though not black and white like this.

 

[cheap77]

Vet move

 

[The Red Line]

Yeah soo much safer for a goalie to rip his helmet off when a slapshot is coming right at him, than to have a broken strap on it...