Alexander Petrovic, a defenseman for the Dallas Stars, finally ended a nine-year goal drought in the NHL playoffs. However, his go-ahead goal had to withstand a prolonged replay review before it was confirmed. Despite initial nerves, Petrovic was relieved when the goal was upheld, putting the Stars in the lead in their second-round Western Conference series against the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets.
The controversial goal, where the puck appeared to deflect off Petrovic’s skate into the net, led to a lengthy review by the NHL situation room. After over five minutes of scrutiny, the decision was made that the Jets’ goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, inadvertently propelled the puck into his own net, giving Dallas a 3-2 advantage. Jets players and coaches had differing opinions on the ruling, with some questioning the interpretation of the rules.
The Stars’ head coach commended the officials for taking the necessary time to ensure accuracy in the call. Despite the chaos and debate surrounding the pivotal goal, both teams continued to battle, with the Jets refusing to blame the outcome on the controversial play.
In the end, Dallas secured a 5-2 victory, with Petrovic enjoying his first playoff goal since 2016. The Jets, down 2-1 in the series, acknowledged the need to regroup and push back in the remaining games.
