10 Observations: Goal? No Goal? The NHL Often Leaves Us Guessing

There is nothing more frustrating than watching a lengthy goal review, wondering if a goal will count or not, only to have an official get on the mic and confirm that a goal will stand.

No explanation. No reasoning. Just a good goal. Sometimes, I wonder why the officials even wear mics. He could’ve just as easily gotten his point across by pointing to center ice.

The play in question was the New York Rangers’ game-tying goal in the third period. They made it 2-2 with 40.9 seconds remaining. But it was quickly noticed that Artemi Panarin had potentially played the puck with a high stick just 10 seconds before the goal.

The TV broadcast showed multiple angles, indicating it was likely a high stick. But the goal still counted. And we have no idea why.

That’s a problem. The inconsistency from the NHL is troubling. If they’re not going to allow officials to speak postgame, they can at least take an extra few seconds to explain why the goal counted.

READ MORE: The Aftermath: MacKinnon Shines Twice, Avalanche Win Much-Needed OT Game

10 Observations

1. The best theory I could find as to why the goal counted was from my colleague Evan Rawal. After Panarin hit the puck with a high stick, it bounced off Avs’ Joel Kiviranta’s helmet before it was touched again by another Rangers player.

Does that negate the high stick? Again, it would’ve been nice to have the official explain that if so.

The puck hits Kiviranta’s helmet after the high stick. Maybe that negates it? pic.twitter.com/laeb1rueXX

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) December 6, 2025

2. The Avs still won in OT, which was a nice way to end this game. The Avalanche were 1-6 past regulation this season and their only victory came off the stick of Gavin Brindley and he’s currently out with an injury.

3. Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Cale Makar were on the ice when MacKinnon scored the winner. That trio should score a lot more than it does in OT. But they’ve struggled this year.

It was nice to see them break through.

4. Two beautiful goals by MacKinnon. He’s up to 24 goals in 28 games. Insane numbers.

5. Necas was caught playing defense on the Connor Sheary goal, and it didn’t go well. You want more from him.

6. The biggest issue with that play is that the Avs tightened up defensively after the first period. The Rangers didn’t have many looks or shots on goal in general, but Sheary was able to take advantage of that play.

7. That was a game-changing sequence. On one end, MacKinnon got a great opportunity on Igor Shesterkin but was stopped. And going back the other way, Sheary quickly tied it up. Instead of going up by two, the Avs were suddenly tied in the third period on the road.

8. The Avalanche had an opportunity to shake off the PP struggles shortly after the Sheary goal and failed miserably. It’s a good think the PK did its job when New York had it’s own PP chance later on.

9. In very little ice time, Zakhar Bardakov continues to make at least one positive play per game to remind us why he should be in the lineup. He was the catalyst of the Parker Kelly goal despite not getting an assist on the play.

10. That reverse hit by Brent Burns on Artemi Panarin was vintage hockey. Panarin ran into a brick wall. All 6’5, 230 lbs of that wall.