Winnipeg spectators expressed their feelings creatively after the Jets had a goal disallowed during Game 5 against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
Towards the end of the second period, Mark Scheifele appeared to score his second goal, but it was immediately waved off by the officials. The reason given was that Scheifele had used his hand to redirect the puck into the net instead of his stick, which is against the rules.
Although the ruling on the goal was seemingly straightforward and in accordance with the rules regarding using a hand to propel the puck, the passionate crowd in Winnipeg reacted by chanting loudly, “should have kicked it,” during the closing moments of the period.
This chant was a clear callback to a highly disputed play in Game 3 of the series. In that prior game, Alex Petrovic of the Stars scored a goal that many observers felt involved a distinct kicking motion. However, after a lengthy video review, the NHL upheld Petrovic`s goal, controversially ruling that Winnipeg`s goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, had effectively “propelled” the puck into the net himself after contact from Petrovic.
It`s evident that the Jets faithful were significantly unhappy with that previous ruling and clearly haven`t forgotten the incident, using the disallowed Scheifele goal as an opportunity to voice their lingering frustration.
