Cooper calls Lightning's overturned goal 'laughable' after hand pass ruling

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper took aim at the NHL's video review system for a controversial ruling in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nikita Kucherov appeared to tie the game for the Lightning late in regulation, but the goal was overturned due to a hand pass by Brandon Hagel earlier in the play.

Here's a closer look at the hand pass.

The Penguins held on for the victory in the final minute.

Cooper took issue with the ruling postgame, arguing that Hagel swatted the puck down in self-defense.

"Was there an advantage gained or not? You could really debate whether an advantage was gained," Cooper said. "Did Brandon Hagel direct that puck knowing exactly where it was going? No."

He added: "I think if you read the rulebook, which we did, and you try to dissect what happened, and take it all into consideration, it's laughable that it got overturned."

The part that appeared to irk Cooper the most was that the NHL's Situation Room initiated the review. In the final minute of play in the third period and at any point in overtime, NHL hockey operations can initiate a review of any scenario that would otherwise be subject to a coach's challenge.

"None of the (on-ice officials) thought it was a hand pass," Cooper said. "There's four of them. It's the evils of video replay. Now there's eyes on everything and camera angles and judgement calls. In the judgement of everybody playing the game, that was not a hand pass."

Cooper added: "Somebody that's not even in Florida is making that call. That can be a little bit frustrating."

The ruling wasn't the only one to upset a coach during Thursday night's action across the league. Colorado Avalanche bench boss Jared Bednar called goalie interference "a joke" after a failed challenge in his team's 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders.