Martin St. Louis questions controversial Carolina Hurricanes goal call during Eastern Conference Final NHL Game 5

The Montreal Canadiens are frustrated after a video review upheld a controversial goal by the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. That call quickly became one of the defining moments of the matchup and sparked plenty of discussion around the NHL.

Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis immediately challenged the play, saying there was contact around goalie Jakub Dobes that prevented him from making the save. It was a tough call, but the officials stuck by their original decision and allowed the goal to stand.

Martin St. Louis questions Carolina Hurricanes NHL Game 5 decision

Martin St. Louis questioned the officials’ decision to uphold the Carolina Hurricanes’ opening goal after video review.

It happened midway through the first period when Carolina Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall scored to give his team an early lead. The Montreal Canadiens coaching staff immediately thought there was a case for goaltender interference and decided to go for a coach’s challenge.

Replay angles showed contact around Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes as he tried to track and stop the puck. Montreal said the contact affected Dobes’ positioning and ability to make the save.

NHL officials reviewed the play and ruled the contact didn’t warrant overturning the goal. The Hurricanes kept their lead with the ruling, and the Canadiens were penalised two minutes for a delay of the game for the unsuccessful challenge.

The conversation largely focused on Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven, who was involved in the play near the crease during the play. At the time the goal was scored, players and coaches of the Canadiens felt the exchange had a direct bearing on Dobes.

That decision would come back to bite Montreal. Instead, the Canadiens had to kill a penalty right after, instead of having the goal wiped off the board.

That was a turning point for the Montreal Canadiens, who won Game 5 and became one of the biggest NHL upsets of the night.