Goalie interference can be a controversial topic for hockey watchers who try to understand why some goals are overturned, while others are allowed.
This season, we’ll provide a running tracker of goalie interference plays and challenges to see how the NHL is ruling on each play and help show you the standard that is followed in 2025-26.
We will show the most recent challenge at the top.
Overall coach’s challenge record: 2-1
* denotes coach’s challenge
*Monday, Oct. 13: Nashville at Ottawa
The situation: Midway through the second period of a 0-0 game, the Senators won an offensive zone faceoff and put pressure on the Predators. Brady Tkachuk was positioned at the top of Nashville’s crease, outside of the blue paint. Tim Stutzle carried the puck into the slot, but after being stick checked and losing possession he continued into Nashville’s crease on his own. Stutzle’s skate made contact with goalie Juuse Saros’ left pad in the blue ice and, immediately after, Jake Sanderson collected the loose puck and his shot beat Saros. The leg Saros would use to push off to challenge the shooter is the one Stutzle made contact with.
The call on the ice was a goal and the Senators took a 1-0 lead. But Nashville’s bench challenged the play for goalie interference.
The ruling: After a lengthy review, the call on the ice was overturned and the Ottawa goal was taken off the board.
Via the NHL: “Video review determined Ottawaâ€s Tim Stutzle entered the crease on his own, made contact with the pad of goaltender Juuse Saros and impaired his ability to play his position prior to Jake Sanderson’s goal. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1, which states in part, “Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeperâ€s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.‘”
The result: About six minutes later, with 7:49 to go in the second period, Nashville opened the scoring to take a 1-0 lead.
Saturday, Oct. 11: Philadelphia at Carolina
The situation: In overtime, Philadelphia’s Travis Sanheim received a pass from Trevor Zegras and drove to the net. He was stick-checked by a Carolina defender who jumped and fell to the ice. Sanheim continued on his path after losing the puck, went through the crease and bumped into Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen. Philadelphia’s Bobby Brink picked up the loose puck and scored. The ruling on the ice was a goal, which gave the Flyers a 3-2 win.
The ruling: The call on the ice was overruled by the Situation Room, which steps in for overtime reviews. Sanheim went into the goalie crease on his own and made contact with Andersen in the blue paint.
Via the NHL: “Video review determined Philadelphiaâ€s Travis Sanheim impaired Frederik Andersenâ€s ability to play his position in the crease prior to Bobby Brinkâ€s goal. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1 which states, in part, ‘Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeperâ€s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.‘”
The result: Carolina won the ensuing faceoff on their side of centre ice in the neutral zone and worked the play into Philadelphia’s end. About 36 seconds after the reviewed Philadelphia goal, Seth Jarvis scored to give Carolina the 4-3 win.
*Saturday, Oct. 11: Columbus at Minnesota
The situation: Mid-way through the second period, the Wild were on a power play trailing 2-0. After gaining the zone, the Wild began putting pressure on the Blue Jackets and Kirill Kaprizov took a shot from the faceoff dot as Joel Eriksson Ek battled for position in front of the net — outside of the blue paint — and got inside the defenceman. Elvis Merzlikins made the first save and as Eriksson Ek battled for the rebound with two Columbus players and the goalie, contact is made with Merzlikins.
Matthew Boldy banged in the rebound to cut Columbus’ lead in half, making it a 2-1 game. But Columbus’ bench decided to challenge the play for goalie interference.
The ruling:The call on the ice was confirmed, keeping the game 2-1 Columbus. Because it was a failed coach’s challenge, the Blue Jackets were issued a two-minute penalty and went right back on the PK.
Via the NHL: “After video review, it was determined that the incidental contact between Minnesotaâ€s Joel Eriksson Ek and Columbus†goaltender Elvis Merzlikins occurred in the white ice and, therefore, did not constitute goaltender interference.”
The result: On the ensuing penalty kill, the Blue Jackets took another penalty for delay of game when Erik Gudbranson shot the puck over the glass, so the Wild got a 5-on-3 advantage. Though Columbus did kill off the penalty they got for the coach’s challenge, Minnesota scored a goal before the Blue Jackets could get the returning player into the defensive end. This tied the game 2-2. Later in the period Columbus took the lead back and went on to win 7-4.
*Thursday, Oct. 9: Columbus at Nashville
The situation:In the final seconds of the second period, Columbus gains possession from an offensive zone faceoff and gets the puck to the point. Winger Mathieu Olivier goes to the front of the net to screen Predators goalie Juuse Saros, when a shot comes in from Damon Severson. Saros, who is in the crease, makes the initial save, but Olivier bangs in the rebound. Olivier’s skates appear to be in and out of the blue paint, and he makes contact with Saros as Severson’s shot arrives.
The call on the ice was a goal, which gave Columbus a 2-1 lead. But Nashville’s bench decided to challenge the play for goalie interference.
The ruling: The call on the ice was overturned and the Columbus goal did not stand.
Via the NHL: “Video review determined Columbus†Mathieu Oliver made contact in the crease with goaltender Juuse Saros that impaired his ability to play his position prior to the goal. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1, which states in part, ‘Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeperâ€s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.‘”
The result: The two teams went into the second intermission tied. Less than three minutes into the third period, Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly scored a power play goal that stood as the game-winner. The Predators won the game 2-1.
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