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

[MysticLeviathan]

You seem to believe there was a good few minutes between the shot that that broke the strap and the shot from the point,

Did the MSG replay not show what was happening in the crease after the strap broke?

It was a good 5-10 seconds or so. If he wanted to take his mask off, he should've as soon as it broke. You don't wait until the puck is going into the net to take the mask off.

 

[1Knee1T]

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.

He had contact in the crease and took his mask off when he was able to. I'm willing to bet he didn't even see the shot get taken.

 

[Kane One]

Can someone point me to the rule which says a goalie is allowed to remove his mask?

 

[Machinehead]

You seem to believe there was a good few minutes between the shot that that broke the strap and the shot from the point,

Did the MSG replay not show what was happening in the crease after the strap broke?

He certainly took it off quick enough when he wanted to. He had time. He took advantage of the rule and goalies shouldn't be allowed to do that.

 

[Smart Dunsparce*]

Clean? He knocked it off as the puck was going in the net. He didn't feel it was dangerous enough to knock it off when there wasn't immediate danger to his net.

Ward clearly thought that the shooter would have toe courtesy to not shoot the puck while he was having helmet problems. Very unclassy for a player to shoot the puck while the goalie is having equipment malfunctions.

As someone else said, taking your mask off when the puck is in the slot is totally safe >.>

He took it off to prevent a goal, nuff said. It was a disgusting play to take advantage of the NHL's obsession with safety.

It was a clean hockey play at the end of the day, the NHL agrees with my sentiment.

 

[Canadian91]

Do we have a video of this? I want to see if for myself.

EDIT: Nevermind, see the GIF now.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Lol this is ridiculous. If he took it off to "save a goal," why not just make a save to save a goal?

He's gotten in trouble before for not taking his mask off when his strap comes undone. MSG even reported that Talbot said on the bench that Hank, himself, and every other goalie in the league would've done the exact same thing.

Unfortunate timing, unfortunate that it prevented a goal, but within the rules, and to attack Ward's character based on it is beyond idiotic.

 

[Lunatik]

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.

It's no different than refs not blowing it down when a net is off or an injured player is on the ice until a specific team touches the puck.

As long as the strap on his mask is undone or broken then the refs have no choice, regardless of when it was broken.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It's a black and white rule. It was the right call unfortunately for Rangers fans.

No, it wasn't. There is a thing called judgement.

He had time to adjust it before. He waited until a dangerous shot was taken and he threw it off as the shot was going in. The whistle wasn't even blown by the ref until the puck had went in the net. It was taking advantage of the rules by Ward. Ref got duped.

 

[Snakepit]

http://gfycat.com/UnlawfulFavoriteGalapagosalbatross

Thanks.


People made it seem like there was 10+ seconds between it breaking and him taking it off. He took it off as soon as he was able too.

I see nothing wrong here

 

[Frederick Stanley]

wtf was Ward doing? That could have resulted in a serious injury.

 

[SladeWilson23]

http://gfycat.com/UnlawfulFavoriteGalapagosalbatross

It's not as if he saw the shot coming. There was clearly an issue with the mask as his head was down the entire time. Nothing wrong with that call. This gif confirms it.

 

[MrEctions]

Can someone point me to the rule which says a goalie is allowed to remove his mask?

Rule 9 – Uniforms – 9.5 – Protective Equipment - If goalkeeper loses his mask play stopped immediately if his team is in possession of the puck and when opposing team has possession of the puck, stopped immediately provide there is no immediate and impending scoring opportunity.

IT should be a goal according to the rules.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

They should have an explicit rule that if there looks like a significant scoring chance, the goal shouldn't be called off. The puck was clearly going into the net, kinda like how if the net gets knocked off, if the puck is going in, then the goal should count.

Edit: Gene Wilder shows that it should've been a goal.

This should be reviewable.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

The gif clearly shows that Ward wasn't even looking at the point.

Not that it matters now, but...

 

[Kane One]

Rule 9 – Uniforms – 9.5 – Protective Equipment - If goalkeeper loses his mask play stopped immediately if his team is in possession of the puck and when opposing team has possession of the puck, stopped immediately provide there is no immediate and impending scoring opportunity.

IT should be a goal according to the rules.

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.

 

[aufheben]

It's no different than refs not blowing it down when a net is off or an injured player is on the ice until a specific team touches the puck.

As long as the strap on his mask is undone or broken then the refs have no choice, regardless of when it was broken.

That's not what the rule is though, correct?

 

[MrClutch86]

Thanks.


People made it seem like there was 10+ seconds between it breaking and him taking it off. He took it off as soon as he was able too.

I see nothing wrong here

I agree. The gif makes it seem like he took it off the second he could and was looking down when the shot was fired.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

9.5 Protective Equipment - All protective equipment, except gloves, headgear and goalkeepers’ leg guards must be worn under the uniform. Should it be brought to the attention of the Referee that a player or goalkeeper is wearing, for example, an elbow pad that is not covered by his jersey, he shall instruct the player or goalkeeper to cover up the pad and a second violation by the same player or goalkeeper would result in a minor penalty being assessed.

. . .

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.

So, the rules state two things.

1) It should have been a goal as there was a scoring opportunity.

2) Ward should have been assessed a penalty.

The Rangers should absolutely protest this game if they end up losing. Furthermore, the referee who botched the call should be disciplined in some manner.

 

[MrEctions]

Karmas a *****, Klein ties it up, **** Ward and the refs.

 

[Snakepit]

It was a good 5-10 seconds or so. If he wanted to take his mask off, he should've as soon as it broke. You don't wait until the puck is going into the net to take the mask off.

5-10? I counted 1.5. He didn't even look up at the shooter, he took it off as soon as he was able.

Sucks for the Rangers but there's nothing wrong here

 

[tlallstar6]

rules are rules.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Ward clearly thought that the shooter would have toe courtesy to not shoot the puck while he was having helmet problems. Very unclassy for a player to shoot the puck while the goalie is having equipment malfunctions.

What? Is this a real comment?

Should Hunwick skate over and ask if Ward's okay before going back to the spot where the puck is and then shoot?

He had no clue there was a problem with his mask because it wasn't even that obvious. Ward threw it off because the puck was going by him.

 

[Doctyl]

Absolute garbage. Cost the Rangers the game

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

He certainly took it off quick enough when he wanted to. He had time. He took advantage of the rule and goalies shouldn't be allowed to do that.

He didn't take advantage of the rule. He didn't have time. He didn't "take advantage of the rule," he's been scored on when his straps were loose and he didn't take his helmet off, he's just making sure it doesn't happen again.

Again, if he's trying to prevent a goal, why not just try to stop the puck? You know, like he does for a living? Because his helmet was off. The right call was no goal either way, his helmet was "off" either way, he just did the thing that it's within the rules to do to notify the refs that it was off.