GIF: Flyers late game-tying goal vs. Devils disallowed controversially

With 40 seconds to play in Tuesday night's game between division rivals the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers, the Devils were clinging to a one goal lead. The Flyers pulled Steve Mason for the extra attacker and were pressing in the Devils end when Jakub Voracek sent a puck to the crease.

Flyers forward Scott Hartnell was crashing the net and appeared to be pushed into Devils netminder Martin Brodeur by Devils defender Anton Volchenkov. The puck squirted past Brodeur and into the net, but the game-tying goal was promptly waived off by the referees.

You can check the play out for yourself here:

[Courtesy MSG]

How big is that disallowed goal? Huge, especially in a tightly contested playoff race. According to sportsclubstats.com, for example, the Devils' playoff hopes improved by over 15% as a result of their two points on Tuesday night. So this particular controversial call was of the high leverage variety:

[Courtesy Sportsclubstats.com]

The NHL explained that the goal was disallowed because Hartnell had pushed Brodeur in the referees estimation. While that's true, it certainly looked as if Hartnell was propelled into Brodeur by Volchenkov.

It's timely that an incident like this would occur during the general managers meetings down in Boca Raton, Florida. On Tuesday expanded video review for plays precisely like this one, was discussed at length at the meeting.