Alain Vigneault called it.
The Rangers coach was incensed Thursday night when his team gave up the game-tying goal on what he thought was clearly goaltender interference, eventually leading to a 4-3 loss to the Hurricanes in Carolina.
But Vigneault also knew that the league would defend the call, after he challenged the play when Elias Lindholm’s elbow lifted goalie Antti Raanta’s mask, allowing for Sebastian Aho’s long point shot to go in and tie the game, 3-3, at 9:04 of the third period.
A league spokesman responded to The Post by email on Friday morning, saying it was incidental contact outside of the crease.