Which NHL Bad Calls Will We Look Back on Forever?

Is Kerry Fraser a Wayne Gretzky Fan?

This game would be the closest the Toronto Maple Leafs would get to go to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Leafs were looking to go to their first Stanley Cup Final in 34 years in the 1993 Campbell Conference Finals. Despite a Wendel Clark hat trick in game 6, the Los Angeles Kings pushed the Leafs into overtime. It was here that Kerry Fraser would put his name on Toronto’s most wanted list.

Wayne Gretzky had used his stick to cut the chin of Doug Gilmour, causing play to stop. When Gilmour’s chin was bleeding, a penalty should’ve sent Gretzky to the penalty box for high sticking. Since Gilmour was also bleeding, it should’ve been a 5-minute major as well. Kerry Fraser somehow did not see the high stick, deeming that it was accidental, so Gretzky stayed on the ice.

Then to top this whole incident off, it would be Gretzky who would score the OT winner, forcing a Game 7. The Kings then won Game 7, thanks to Gretzky’s hat trick, putting them in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time. While the Maple Leafs made a few more appearances in the conference finals, this was the closest chance they had to get there. But thanks to one referee, this would become a moment that Leafs fans would always want to forget.

Offside Starts Dynasty

Who would’ve thought the New York Islanders dynasty of the ’80s would’ve started due to an offside goal. When the Islanders faced off in the 1980 Stanley Cup Final against the Philidelphia Flyers, they led the series 3-2. Game 6 saw the game tied at one thanks to one powerplay goal each by both teams. Then just a few minutes later, Duane Sutter put the Isles up by one. However, there was a bit of controversy after the goal. The whole Flyers bench began to jump up and yell at the officials for not calling offsides.

When the replay got shown on TV, the pass from Clark Gillies, which reached Butch Goring, showed that Goring did not pass the line. The whistle should’ve blown, deeming the play dead, and the game should still be tied. Despite that goal, the Flyers still fought back, and the game then went to overtime tied at 4. Sadly for the Flyers, Bob Nystrom scored the overtime goal that would begin the next four years of the Islanders Dynasty. If you mention this series to Islanders or any other NHL fans, they would most likely say the Nystrom goal. But the missed call is the moment remembered by the Flyers fanbase, robbing them of a potential Game 7.

Hull in the Crease

This call not only ruined one team, but it also garnered a new NHL rule. The 1999 Stanley Cup Finals featured the Dallas Stars against the Buffalo Sabres. With the Stars up 3-2 in the series and looking to clinch their first Stanley Cup, the series headed to Buffalo for Game 6. While the Stars would get on the board first thanks to a goal by Jere Lehtinen, the Sabres tied the game later on thanks to Stu Barnes. However, that would be the last time both teams score for a while. As the hours passed and each period ended, the game as still tied. However, in the 3rd overtime, it would be Brett Hull, who scored the series clinching goal for the Stars.

Before the new rule was made, players were not allowed to be inside the crease, as it would interfere with the goalie. The only exception would be if the puck is inside the crease, then it would count. But Hull had to have possession of the puck, which he did not. He was already in the crease when gained his own rebound. That’s the best way I can explain this rule without being too confusing. The point is, the goal shouldn’t have counted, and the game should’ve kept going. Thankfully after this season, the rule of the crease did change. This would be the last time the Sabres made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. It’s a shame because this would’ve been the first time Buffalo had been happy about a sports team winning a championship in a long time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when a sports team gets robbed of a call, it could always be minor bad calls. Those are ones that people usually forget. With these calls, though, it’s clear that big championships implications were on the line. To have that taken away from you is very frustrating. Maybe someday these teams will get the Stanley Cup they deserve, and that day will feel so sweet for those cities.

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