THAT GOAL

With the Sabres in town, memories of that special spring in 99’ come flooding back.

Mike Heika did a terrific comparison chart of the two franchise’s since the 1999 Final in today’s DMN, and accompanying that article was “The Picture” of “The Goal”. (Sorry Lindy)

Nine years later, and with the goal scorer now the Stars co-GM, just how imbecilic does that deceased rule, the one that created such a stir and so much controversy, now seem? A toe-nail in the crease negates a goal. Please!

The rule itself was installed as a deterrent to forwards bowling over goaltenders, which, apparently the NHL felt was reaching pandemic proportions, but what it really did was make the scoring of goals a near impossibility. (Check the totals that season for proof)

Many observers feared that the rule would be a problem area come playoffs when players drive to the net harder, with a lot more at stake. They had their fears realized at 14:51 of the 6th period in Buffalo when Hull beat Hasek to win the Cup.

Of course anybody who had done their homework knew that the player could be in the crease when a goal was scored as long as he was in “possession” of the puck. (I guess the Sabres had left their books at school) Sort of like when players back into the attacking zone with the puck today and are deemed “on-side”.

So we fast-forward almost a decade and the rule governing the crease area. It is summed up very succinctly in Rule 69a (How appropriate):

An attacking player is standing in the goal crease when the puck enters the crease then crosses the goal line and in no way does he affect the goalkeeper’s ability to defend his goal – The goal is allowed.

Way to go NHL – today, and on that late June day in 1999.

Reminder: Its once again “shine up your ring day “ in Big D!