UPDATED: NHL investigating FSN Pittsburgh for withholding tape of Flyers' goal, network suspends staff member, son of former Penguin Lowell MacDonald

I remember this incident and I agree, that was 99.99% likely a Crosby goal, and it certainly is a problem with the way the rule is written that the judges can’t use logic, in which case both Crosby and Gagne would have been awarded their goals and we wouldn’t be having this debtate. In the Gagne case, Johnson couldn’t have pushed the puck out of the net unless the puck had been in the net.

But beyond the inability of the video goal judges to use logic is where your comparison of the two situations fails. In the Crosby incident, Toronto had all of the available VIDEO angles but could not conclusively overturn the ref’s on-ice decision based thereon.

Your argument would hold up IF Toronto could use photographs taken in the building. Then, they would have had access to the shot taken by the newspaper reporter’s photograph which you cited and posted (it’s also why you didn’t see it until the next day). Heck, maybe they could start asking people in the seats to start sending their photos in by email before making a call!

But since they don’t have that access, that’s where your analogy ends. Because in the Gagne incident, an angle which WAS available to Toronto was INTENTIONALLY WITHHELD by the HOME TEAM’s video producers. That is a violation of the league’s rules which mandate that all angles must be provided to Toronto, regardless of whether or not they are broadcast. When the guy at fault is the son of a former Penguin, how can you not suspect collusion?

In short, a “fan” effected the outcome of the game, which is not fair to either team, or in this case, the player. Gagne currently has 11 career SHG’s. Let’s say that Gagne stays with the Flyers for his career and scores another 21 before he’s forced to retire. This “fan” in Pittsburgh robbed Gagne of an all-time Flyers record, unless you put an * next to his name with the caption “record setting goal disallowed due to Pens fan’s malfeasance”.

In short, if human fallibility results in a call gone wrong, that’s something that I think all hockey fans, and sports fans in general, can live with. If intentional misconduct results in a call not being made, you effect the integrity of the game.

I’m waiting for Lowell MacDonald’s public apology to Simon Gagne, to the Flyers and most importantly, to fans of the game. I’m suspecting it won’t come, but please let me know if it does and I miss it. I’m sure the NHL won’t be doing anything to publicize it.

That shot was taken by a newspaper photographer. If you’ve got a video clip showing that angle and that was still a ‘no goal,’ I’d be shocked. If you go back and read the moderator’s post in the archive, there is no mention whatsoever that this video was withheld from Toronto. I would think Pens fans would have been similarly outraged had this situation happened to your team.