COLUMBUS, Ohio — The NHL said human error — specifically the actions of an over-exuberant off-ice official-in-training within Nationwide Arena — led to a controversial goal and the bizarre chain of events that followed in the Blue Jackets’ 6-5 loss to Carolina on Sunday.
Late in the second period, the Blue Jackets challenged a goal by Hurricanes forward Vincent Trocheck, believing the play to be offside. After a quick review, the goal was allowed to stand, and the Jackets went on the penalty kill because the challenge was unsuccessful.
If you thought the call was bizarre — replays showed Trocheck clearly in the zone ahead of the puck seconds before the goal was scored — brace yourself for the explanation of how it all unfolded.
The league, it turns out, never actually upheld the “good goal” ruling. They were still in the process of reviewing the play when the wrong information was passed along to NHL referee…
