The Columbus Blue Jackets got shutout in pretty ugly fashion, 5-0, the last time they took the ice on Tuesday night against Detroit. However, it was nearly a 1-1 game after the first period, as
Boone Jennercame oh-so close to scoring his first goal of the season.
However, the goal went to review, and 3-ish minutes later, it was determined that Boone made a “distinct kicking motion” on the puck towards the goal, and the goal was disallowed. Man, what could have been if that goal had stood.
And, while yes, I’m watching these games with a CBJ tent, I’m still not sure if I agree with the call. One of my good friends, who is a Red Wings fan, asked me during the game (he had a prior engagement which made him miss the first period) even asked me after the fact “as a writer, not a fan, was it a good no-call?” Even with the semi-professional view point I had, I still waivered on whether or not the decision in Toronto was the right one.
More from Blue Jackets News
- Blaming Columbus Blue Jacket Players for Babcock Fallout is Unfair
- The Mike Babcock Experiment in Columbus Has Failed
- Blue Jacket Prospects Win Traverse City Tournament: Who Stood Out?
- Mike Babcock Resigns as CBJ Head Coach: Reaction
- New Claims Bring Higher Level of Concern to Babcock Situation
Let me fill you guys in on a little secret – I’m a terrible ice skater. Granted, I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia so the opportunities weren’t as bountiful as they are other places, but still, when I do go, it takes me a while to find my footing. And, when I inevitably do fall on my backside, more often than not, I lift one foot in the air to try and catch my balance (for some reason, I’m not sure that has ever worked for me). On Tuesday, while the review was going on, and still right now, that’s exactly what I think the case was here. No, Boone wasn’t attempting to
purposefully
kick the puck in, the puck was just a bystander.
Also, why in the world does Rule 49.2 still exist? You can kick the ball in the goal in the sport of lacrosse, and there’s no closer relative to the game of hockey than Canada’s national summer sport. SBNation’s Jackets Cannon ran a piece yesterday on this exact rule, and makes a very good point about the wording used to define it:
"More fundamentally, the rule itself is internally inconsistent. Rule 49.1 provides the definition of “kicking”, which requires “deliberate” action on the part of the attacking player. So, having defined “kicking” as deliberate, it’s difficult to semantically argue that a “distinct kicking motion” — which uses the defined term “kicking” — can be applied to anything other than deliberate conduct."
Let the debate begin. Let us know in a comment below, or on twitter @UnionandBlue, to let us know where you stand on if it was the right call to disallow Boone’s goal. But, whatever you do, don’t ask Jimmy Howard.
#RedWings G Jimmy Howard watched replays of Boone Jenner's disallowed goal last night and said it showed a "distinguished kicking motion."
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 19, 2014
It’s okay to be wrong, just so he knows that.