Rangers fan here — looks like he tried to avoid the interference call by lifting his right skate, but ended up losing his balance. You can see he actually tries to keep his weight off Pickard as he goes down, even pushing off with his left skate at the last second to avoid making full contact
I don't see any question or controversy here at all. On the other hand, when Kane blatantly ran into Hill, the fact that Vegas didn't come away with a PP is ludicrous!
I think Hertl's path without Kulak in the way is actually probably going to miss the crease (or just barely brush the red paint outline).
You can see the space there when he starts his motion, but Kulak's left skate takes some foot space, then Kulak sticks his butt out to take more space away from Hertl's original path. This couple of inches lost to Kulak delays Hertl's pivot (he cant swing his hips around as early as planned because Kulak's are now in the way) and caused his right foot to come down a couple of inches off his original target, which then causes the off balance fall/push.
I think a mitigating factor in my opinion that this isn't goalie interference is that Hertl actively tries to not land fully on Pickard. He senses his right skate is on equipment instead of ice so doesn't put any weight on it. As he topples over/behind Pickard, he clearly does his best to catch himself and, again, not apply his whole body weight to a vulnerable player.
There's plenty of players who in this situation would have either dug their skate in or entirely flopped onto Pickard with the intent to sneakily injure/disturb the goalie.
Not that someone else's hypothetical big-wrong makes someone else's little-wrong okay, but there's lots of goalie related contact I'd like to see addressed before this. (E.g. 'legally' flopping onto goalies when pushed, Bennett extending his forearm and continuing to push it THROUGH contact with the back of a players helmet)
It's unfortunate that Vegas scored shortly after this, but I dont think this play was a penalty. Kulak either pushes him over, or removes space from Hertl causing the contact with Pickard
Additionally, Pickard had the opportunity to stop play for injury and refused (though I think the rules surrounding this situation where a goalie HAS to come out after a whistle for them are a bit overkill)
Old school hockey, players wouldnt skate in kue paint. Maybe the edge but right into it? Like cmon. Im sure players knew not to skate into blue ice. This is just nonsense to me
Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl took a dive on the back of Pickard’s leg following a battle in front of the net. He was not pushed but chose to drop on his leg in order to injure him. How can this impunity happen in an NHL playoff game. 🙈 These planned attacks on a successful player occur time and time again.
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Opportunistic fall onto Pickard's leg. Not a push.
This one is a tough call, as an Oiler fan I’m fine with no penalty here. But lots of blatantly missed calls going both ways in this game.
Just glad Hertl didn’t land on Pickle’s leg with his full weight.
Rangers fan here — looks like he tried to avoid the interference call by lifting his right skate, but ended up losing his balance. You can see he actually tries to keep his weight off Pickard as he goes down, even pushing off with his left skate at the last second to avoid making full contact
I don't see any question or controversy here at all. On the other hand, when Kane blatantly ran into Hill, the fact that Vegas didn't come away with a PP is ludicrous!
I think Hertl's path without Kulak in the way is actually probably going to miss the crease (or just barely brush the red paint outline).
You can see the space there when he starts his motion, but Kulak's left skate takes some foot space, then Kulak sticks his butt out to take more space away from Hertl's original path. This couple of inches lost to Kulak delays Hertl's pivot (he cant swing his hips around as early as planned because Kulak's are now in the way) and caused his right foot to come down a couple of inches off his original target, which then causes the off balance fall/push.
I think a mitigating factor in my opinion that this isn't goalie interference is that Hertl actively tries to not land fully on Pickard. He senses his right skate is on equipment instead of ice so doesn't put any weight on it. As he topples over/behind Pickard, he clearly does his best to catch himself and, again, not apply his whole body weight to a vulnerable player.
There's plenty of players who in this situation would have either dug their skate in or entirely flopped onto Pickard with the intent to sneakily injure/disturb the goalie.
Not that someone else's hypothetical big-wrong makes someone else's little-wrong okay, but there's lots of goalie related contact I'd like to see addressed before this. (E.g. 'legally' flopping onto goalies when pushed, Bennett extending his forearm and continuing to push it THROUGH contact with the back of a players helmet)
It's unfortunate that Vegas scored shortly after this, but I dont think this play was a penalty. Kulak either pushes him over, or removes space from Hertl causing the contact with Pickard
Additionally, Pickard had the opportunity to stop play for injury and refused (though I think the rules surrounding this situation where a goalie HAS to come out after a whistle for them are a bit overkill)
Old school hockey, players wouldnt skate in kue paint. Maybe the edge but right into it? Like cmon. Im sure players knew not to skate into blue ice. This is just nonsense to me
Nothing to see here. His skate hit his skate and he fell but if you watch closely he actually tried to dive over and past the goalies legs.
Missed call. Clear goalie interference. Kulak's outstretched elbow wouldn't have moved the 200+ lb Hertl much if at all.
It's hockey. It's fast and physical. People fall down. Play on.
Hertl tripped on Pickard skate but he should not even be near it.
Typical garbage play used by inferior american or eurotrash players when they are losing.
He tries to stop himself but the Oilers guy shoves him farther back until he trips on Pickard
Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl took a dive on the back of Pickard’s leg following a battle in front of the net. He was not pushed but chose to drop on his leg in order to injure him. How can this impunity happen in an NHL playoff game.
🙈 These planned attacks on a successful player occur time and time again.
Hockey play. Nothing to see here.
Oilers should do this fall on Bobrovsky!