A completely blown call and a very confusing situation in the Columbus-Carolina game

If you thought the officiating in the NHL couldn't get any worse, it appears you were wrong. A very confusing and, quite frankly, ridiculous situation was created Sunday in the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes when the Blue Jackets decided to challenge a goal for being offside in the final minute of the second period. The goal was deemed to be good, despite being clearly offside, and Columbus was given a penalty. It gave Carolina a 4-3 lead. When everyone returned for the 2nd period, the NHL announced there had been a "miscommunication" between the officials and the situation room in Toronto, the play was offside and the penalty was cancelled. The goal, however, was not taken back.

re this 🧵—
per @shelleyhawk45 it's believed on the reverse angle that Trochek was in fact, offside, the penalty has been taken off the board. The goal remains. #CBJ #Canes https://t.co/436M41MaTo pic.twitter.com/o2L6Po99bW— Alison (@AlisonL) February 7, 2021

This is the official statement from the league saying the penalty had been called off, but it did not explain why the goal was not.

Official word from the NHL Situation Room on the Carolina offside goal. A "miscommunication" occurred. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/YVQAGPJUzt— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) February 7, 2021

To make matters worse, Carolina would go on to win the game 6-5. That goal that shouldn't have counted essentially won the game for the Hurricanes.

"It's the biggest joke I've ever seen," said Patrik Laine of Columbus after the game.

It's tough to disagree with him on that assessment. The usually outspoken John Tortorella, the head coach of the Blue Jackets, was too worked up to even talk about it.

"I'm going to let the league explain it. I'm out," said Torts.

The bottom line is, this never should have happened and the NHL really needs to get its act together. It's fine to make a mistake and determine that the goal was no good when it was deemed to be legal. But why would the goal be allowed to stand. What a mess, and the league really has a lot of questions to answer about this. Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long for them.

For an update on this story, see below:

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