from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,
So one of the changes announced on Thursday was just that: from now on, referees will be “required to perform an on-ice video review for all major (non-fighting) and match penalties. The official can downgrade his call to a minor, of video evidence shows the referee that he perhaps overreacted to the call.
That seems fair, doesn’t it? And it does not require a challenge from one of the coaches, something Bettman would rather cull from the game.
Challenges, as we have learned, become an act of desperation late in a one-goal game. Coaches have nothing to lose, and the game is slowed down because of it.
On Thursday the GMs eliminated the number of challenges a coach can make, but they will now come with escalating consequences if the challenge is unsuccessful. The first unsuccessful challenge of any type results in a minor penalty against the challenging team (no more losing their timeout). Each successive unsuccessful challenge will result in a double-minor.
As such, the GMs made the goalie interference challenge just like offside. Where it used to be that a failed goaltender interference call cost a team their timeout, now it will mean a two-minute minor that is assessed immediately after the goal in question.
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