Finally we have a fans’ guide to understanding goalie interference in the NHL!

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met with media after the general managers’ meeting on Wednesday and spoke about all of the different topics that were brought up during discussions, including negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement, the playoff format and the future of the All-Star Game.

However, the GMs also addressed the ongoing confusion that takes place most times during a coach’s challenge for goaltender interference. Frank Seravalli has gathered all of the information, and put together a much-needed fans’ guide to understanding goalie interference in the NHL. The insider provides a checklist of clues that will be more helpful to fans than whatever has been done until now when a head coach challenges a goal in which his goalie claims he was unable to do his job.

Per Seravalli:

1. Did contact occur within the crease’s blue paint or in white ice?
2. Was contact deemed to be deliberate or incidental?
3. Did the goalie have a chance to reset? Can the goalie do his job?
4. Did the actions of the offensive or defensive player impact the contact?

In his article, Seravalli provides clear examples to help answer those tough questions.

Clearly there is still a significant gray zone here… On one side, some executives believe goalies are being overprotected while others and some head coaches and netminder staff claim they need more protection…

Not sure we are out of the woods yet with this issue, but at least Seravalli is landing us a hand with his guide to understanding goalie interference.