Originally Posted by
conscript
In a "goal scoring situation" it is up to the refs discretion whether to blow the play dead as soon as the goalie is helmetless or not. I guess they felt it was such a situation because it was essentially an empty net and Tampa had control of the puck. Pretty shitty rule really when you consider that in most goal scoring situations, the offensive team is going to be shooting at the helmetless goalie which makes no freaking sense at all. It is one of those situations that is hard to make right like the official "intending" to blow the whistle in his mind and canceling out a goal. Thomas' helmet didn't break because of a Tampa shot or stick which would justify its removal, like happened in a Detroit game and in a Philly game this postseason, and therefore a stoppage in play. Thomas lost his helmet because his own player fell on him. It doesn't seem like a legitimate whistle to call regardless of safety issues if your helmet is lost because of your own player without giving the other team some sort of compensation. Maybe that should be a penalty or penalty shot. Currently it is a potential non-stoppage of play potentially resulting in the goalie getting hit in the face with the puck which just seems absolutely stupid.