LAS VEGAS — No question, Ducks coach Joel Quenneville was furious about the blown icing call that resulted in the tiebreaking goal in their 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on Monday night.
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But he insisted on the eve of Game 2 on Wednesday that he wasn’t in favor of adding more video reviews. It would be taking the human element out of the game.
“I’m a traditionalist,” he said of the possibility of expanded video reviews.
The NHL offers coaches the ability to challenge some rulings on the ice, including for offsides and, of course, interference with the goaltender’s ability to make a save plus whether a shot has crossed the goal line entirely. Adding replays for icing or other judgment calls would be too much.
“Just get it right,” Quenneville said. “Move on. Either way it is, we’ll move on.”
Quenneville disagreed with recent comments by Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, who suggested video reviews to sort out the biggest offenders in post-whistle scrums or to punish players for embellishment in order to draw a whistle should be added during the playoffs.
“We’ve got a lot of rules,” Quenneville said.
He also wasn’t in favor of asking for public explanations by game or league officials about controversial calls or non-calls, such as the one in Game 1 that set up Ivan Barbashev’s tiebreaking goal with less than five minutes to play.
The NBA, NFL and MLB do issue statements, but the NHL doesn’t.
“I don’t need that,” he said. “I’m a traditionalist. I’m used to it. That’s no problem.”
Barbashev shot the puck from behind the red line into the Ducks’ zone, which prompted a linesman to raise his arm to signal an icing call was pending. Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe beat Vegas center Jack Eichel to the puck, but a linesman then waved off the icing.
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As play continued, Barbashev slipped behind the flat-footed Ducks to score, breaking a 1-1 tie only moments after Mikael Granlund’s tying goal. LaCombe later blamed himself for not playing at full speed, making a better clearing attempt while assuming the play would be ruled icing.
CREW CHANGE
The officiating crew of referees Jean Hebert and Trevor Hanson and linesmen Kiel Murchison and Bevan Mills, who worked Game 1, were replaced by referees Kelly Sutherland and TJ Luxmore and linesmen James Tobias and Devin Berg for Game 2, a customary move in the playoffs.
SENNECKE HONORED
Right wing Beckett Sennecke said it was “awesome” to be voted as one of three finalists for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie for the 2025-26 season. “I’ve learned a ton this year on and off the ice,” he added. “I’m super fortunate that they (the coaching staff) gave me the opportunity.”
Sennecke shared the rookie lead with New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer with 23 goals. Sennecke, Schaefer and Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov were the three finalists in voting by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
“He’s long, he’s wiry, he makes a lot of plays that you don’t see very often,” Quenneville said. “Sometimes they turn spectacular, sometimes, OK, it’s not every day you want to try that in this league. There are some growing pains along the way, but the upside of his talent is tremendous.”
LINEUP CHANGES
Quenneville made several late changes to the Ducks’ lineup for Game 2. Left wing Jansen Harkins and right winger Ross Johnston were inserted into the lineup and left wing Mason McTavish and right wing Ian Moore were scratched in an attempt to add a more physical presence.
“They’re ready to play, they’re just waiting for the opportunity,” Quenneville said of Harkins and Johnston. “It’s never easy. It’s never an easy decision. It’s not punishment. It’s to say, ‘Hey, we want to have more troops in the series. We’re going to need everybody.’”
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