Sabres must get over 2nd "No-goal" hysteria to avoid elimination
By Rick Anderson
April 15, 2000
After sleeping on it, the question is what kind of impact will the latest "No Goal" fiasco have on the Buffalo Sabres themselves. After having the second non-goal be counted against them in their last three playoff games, the Sabres have to reach down inside and pull out their best effort this season come Sunday when they play Game 3 of their opening round series against the Philadelphia Flyers in Buffalo.
"It's a nightmare. That's all I have to say,"Lindy Ruff said in his only statement to the press after the game. He canceled his post game conference and the Sabres were whisked away to the airport for their return trip to Buffalo before another other players could issue any statements that could get them into trouble.
Dixon Ward did get his word in and was the first one to notice the whole in the side of the net where LeClair's shot went in.
"I saw the puck shot," explained Ward who could not believe his eyes. "I saw Dom's pad right against the post. I can't figure out how the puck went in. Before we can do anything, the puck's dropped. Then they're looking at the replay and they find out it's no goal."
"It doesn't matter if I see it go through the side of the net like I did," Ward continued in a very sarcastic manner. "It doesn't matter if I go to the officials and tell them. They won't listen. They won't go and tell them to review it. I went right down to the side of the net to see if there was a hole in the net and we found it -- a huge hole where the puck went through."
"It's embarrassing is what it is. We can't say anything because we've been dictated to: Smile and promote the game and say what a wonderful game it is and what a wonderful job everyone does."
No matter how the Sabres look at it, they have to get over this blatant ruling in a hurry. Being down two games to none leaves the Sabres backs against the wall. Sunday they come home to face the Flyers in a make-or-break game. Losing their third straight game all but eliminates the Sabres. What the team has to do is to come out and forget about all the bad calls that went against them in the first two games of the series.
The Sabres felt they were the victims in more ways than the no goal issue. Dominik Hasek was being run constantly, especially by Keith Primeau, who Hasek took issue with Primeau and took a few swings at the Flyers' tough man. That resulted in Hasek getting a roughing penalty. Hasek was the victim of numerous chops and run-ins in the Sabres crease area. Primeau charged into Hasek when he was playing the puck behind the boards on one occasion, but this time Primeau did get a two minute minor.
While Tsyplakov was in the box, the Flyers scored what turned out to be the game winner.
With the Flyers cycling in the Sabres zone, Rhett Warrener blew a chance to clear the puck and his clearing attempt went right onto the stick of Mark Recchi who was stationed at the point. Recchi fed Desjardins and his blast went past Hasek.
"Luckily, I got a great pass," Desjardins said. "I had a little bit of time and I looked at the net and went high. It's funny because right before the power play, Craig Berube said, 'Next one you have on him, make sure you go high.' "
After that goal, the Sabres could not penetrate the Flyers line of defense to even get close to Boucher, who made a total of 30 saves in the game.
"I'm just relieved right now," said Boucher. "You like to win the first two games, but it's only two games. We're halfway there."
The one goal that did get past him was scored by Miroslav Satan in the first period. He scored with 9:20 left in the period when he picked up a rebound of a Jason Woolley shot and put a wrap-around shot past Boucher. That was the only goal that the rookie goaltender would allow and his performance was much better than the opening game the night before.
The Sabres fans will have their chance to voice their displeasure over the non-goal by LeClair Sunday night when the two teams get back into the thick of things at 7:30 PM in HSBC Arena. You can be sure there will be plenty of signs around the arena and they will not be too complimentary to the NHL video review system.
Dixon Ward was one of the few Sabres to break the "gag rule" and voice his honest opinion of the second bogus goal in the last three Sabres playoff games.
"Obviously, we can't comment on it," Ward retorted. "They tell us that. They tell us to promote the game. And what a wonderful game it is."
When asked why didn't he complain before the faceoff, Ward said, "You can't get anybody's attention. They won't talk to you, so what are you supposed to do?"
Ward could envision the NHL coming up with a memo explaining the non-goal just like they did when they amended the "in the crease" rule.
"It'll be Rule 36 B, double-A, addendum 14," he theorized. "I'll probably get in trouble for saying stuff, but we weren't allowed to say anything last year. We got muzzled. I don't want to criticize, but sometimes the integrity of the game becomes at stake. It's not Philadelphia's fault. It's not John LeClair's fault. it's not the goal judges' fault. I don't know whose fault it is, but it's too bad it happens, that's all I'm trying to say."
"It (the video replay) is supposed to be bulletproof," stated Doug Gilmour. "Obviously it's not bulletproof. It's disappointing."
"I wasn't sure until I saw the hole on the side of the net," admitted Hasek. "I was surprised that it went in. My glove and my pad were there. I know LeClair had a hard shot, but I was surprised that it went in. I cannot blame the referees. I don't think it's their mistake. It's somebody upstairs who should look at the replay. It's frustrating to see that somebody was careless."
"If it goes in the side, which it obviously did, it's not a goal," Sabres captain Michael Peca said. "Somebody is earning a paycheck to work the video replay booth. There has to be a call made. It's unfortunate for us."
Darcy Regier made a scene up in the video replay booth after the second period. He came in, pointed the obvious non-goal to John D'Amico who was the Sabres-Flyers series supervisor and with video goal judge Mike Condon.. Regier, who is noted for his calm attitude and patience, displayed little of those characteristics as he went into a ballistic tirade. He stormed out of the booth only to come back and argue some more.
"The National Hockey League made a mistake, and they acknowledged it," Regier commented. "There is no question it had an impact on the momentum of the game."
Now the Sabres will have to decide if there is any NHL rule that allows a possible protest of a game. Knowing how the league operates, it is very doubtful that any kind of protest can be successfully mounted. The game is officially over and the Sabres must put this bogus goal ruling much quicker than they did the Brett Hull infamous no-goal. If they don't, the Sabres will find themselves trailing the Flyers 3 games to none late Sunday night.
WATCH JOHN LECLAIR'S SHOT GO THROUGH SIDE OF NET
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On Friday night, it was an all-too familiar scene for Buffalo Sabres fans all over the country. There were the NHL officials trying to explain away yet another one of their eggs their video replay officials hatched during a crucial Stanley Cup playoff game. As it was, a non-goal by John LeClair was left to stand in the second period and it helped seal the Sabres fate in a 2-1 Flyers victory in the First Union Center in Philly. Eric Desjardins scored what turned out to be the winning goal during the third period, but it was the infamous "No-goal 2" that was the buzz in Buffalo and all around the hockey world after Friday's contest.
John LeClair, who scored the controversial goal through the side of the net, celebrates Eric Desjardins game-winning goal against the Sabres in the third period.
[AP Photo/Chris Gardner]
The Flyers got many breaks when hooks, interference, and tripping calls went neglected. One obvious non-call was when Stu Barnes had a clear break on Flyers goalie Dan Boucher and was hauled down in front of the referee. On the other hand, when the Sabres even touched a Flyers, they usually ended up in the box. One such penalty being called was the one on Vladimir Tsyplakov who was called for interference. The call was obviously a very weak one in the light of the flagrant infractions the Flyers were getting away with all night.
Miroslav Satan scores the Sabres lone goal on Brian Boucher during the first period. Later, the Flyers would score a goal that video replays showed went through the side mesh of the goal.
[AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy]
"It's frustrating because (it was a) great game and, regardless of the outcome, it has to be marred by something stupid again."
Dixon Ward points out the hole in the net where the bogus goal entered to linesman Brad Lazarowich
[HARRY SCULL JR./Buffalo News]
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