For those who enjoy Saturday Night Live, you might recognize cast member Kenan Thompson with his catchphrase, “What’s up with that?” This very question seems fitting when discussing the NHL’s handpass rule following Thursday night’s match between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Late in the game, Tampa Bay scored a tying goal, but the NHL Situation Room in Toronto overturned Nikita Kucherov’s goal. They ruled that Brandon Hagel committed a handpass by directing the puck to Jake Guentzel, which led to the goal, resulting in Tampa Bay’s 4-3 loss.
Hagel was wearing gloves to protect his teeth, and there was no intention to commit a handpass. However, according to Rule 79 of the NHL rulebook, the key issue is whether a player stopped or hit the puck with their hand in the air and if they directed it to a teammate or gave an advantage to their team, which is the same standard used in international hockey.
This topic is expected to be a discussion point at upcoming General Manager meetings, and changes to the rule could come before next season.
For more details, watch today’s video column above.
Fan Take: This controversy highlights the ongoing debate about clarity and fairness in NHL officiating, especially regarding handpass calls. Adjusting the rule could make the game more transparent and enjoyable for fans, ensuring pivotal moments are judged with consistent standards.
