In the Room: Cale Makar Was Shocked His Goal Was Overturned (+)

Somewhere in the middle of a masterclass third-period defensive effort and a dominant performance from superstar center Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche had a goal overturned following a coach’s challenge on Monday.

They defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2 at Ball Arena. But it could’ve been six, had it not been for Cale Makar’s third-period tally that ended up getting taken off the board.

READ MORE: MacKinnon Dominates, Helps Avalanche Crush Capitals at Ball Arena

Makar came down from the blueline and received a pass from MacKinnon and fired it past goalie Charlie Lindgren with Martin Necas standing above the crease.

Necas didn’t make any contact with Lindgren. But the goalie’s stick was out of position, and he couldn’t move from right to left without his stick interfering with Necas. Rather than try, Lindgren ditched his stick and lost his glove in the process, but was beaten clean by Makar.

The Capitals called timeout to get a longer look. They eventually decided to challenge the goal, and the review, surprisingly didn’t last long.

Still, Makar didn’t hold back postgame. He couldn’t believe the goal was overturned.

“I don’t think we got an explanation. I don’t really know. I saw the clip of it,” Makar told me after the game. “I don’t know the rule. Like, honestly, I don’t know if anybody does at this point. I don’t think Marty was in the crease. If we’re going to be calling stuff like that, I feel like we gota put a second layer of crease because I don’t understand. At this point, I really don’t understand. We’ve had a couple of these this year now, and, yeah, I don’t get it.”

Makar isn’t the only one that feels that way about goalie interference.

“I have no clue what [goalie interference] is, to this day,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “I don’t mind saying it.”

The Avs didn’t let the overturned goal ruin their day. They were up 3-2 at that point, and thought they had restored a two-goal lead. But after the goal was taken off the board, Colorado quickly responded with another. And then added a fifth for good measure.

Scott Wedgewood was in goal for Colorado. He obviously wasn’t involved in the play, but he got to assess what he saw by watching the replays on the Jumbotron.

“My thought would be if he holds on to [his stick] and he twists. But since he lets go … I thought it was a good goal,” Wedgewood said. “I mean. [Necas] is getting pushed in, but he does his job to get to white ice.”