Controversial though the play seemed, NHL referee Chris Rooney nailed Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler on the letter of the law when he disallowed Wheeler’s apparent short-handed, game-tying goal and penalized the Jets forward for goaltender interference Tuesday night.
It was a matter of judgment, appointed by the rulebook to Rooney and Brad Watson Tuesday night, and it was determined Wheeler simply didn’t do enough to avoid the contact he made with San Jose goalie Alex Stalock’s skate that caused the goalie to fall.
Stalock’s poor judgment and poor playing of the puck aren’t in question here and aren’t relevant.