What should have been a great moment for the league, with the newest expansion team playing its very first regular season game, turned into a debate over what constitutes a kicking motion. With the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken tied at three each in the third period Tuesday night, the game winning goal was scored off the skate of
Chandler Stephenson of Vegas. He clearly angled his skate to put the puck on the net, which he is absolutely allowed to do. However, the debate remains over whether he made a distinct kicking motion. Former NHL coach and Stanley Cup winner John Tortorella has weighed in.
For those not aware, Torts is now an analyst with ESPN after leaving the Columbus Blue Jackets at the end of last season. Asked if this goal should have counted, Tortorella said no.
"It should not be a goal," said Tortorella. "There is kicking motion there. You can see it in the tape. It's tough on that side to have kicking motion, but it was there. He lifted his skate and it looks like there's motion going towards the net. Was it distinctive enough? I guess that's what the league is saying, it wasn't."
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Former NHLer Brian Boucher, also with ESPN now, disagreed with Torts saying there wasn't enough of a kicking motion to call off the goal,
"I think in the spirit of trying to increase scoring, it has to be obvious," said Boucher, referring to the kicking motion. "This one just had way too much grey area."
The bottom line is the goal counts and the Kraken get an L in their first ever NHL game. You can view the goal, as well as Tortorella's and Boucher's comments in the video below.
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