Vegas Golden Knights Screwed By 'Botched Call,' Claims Analyst
The Vegas Golden Knights had a chance to take a stranglehold of the Stanley Cup Final on June 4.
Vegas won Game 1 of the Final on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes and led 2-0 going into the third period. Yet, the Hurricanes rallied to tie it 2-2. Then, with five minutes left in the third period, Ivan Barbashev appeared to put the Golden Knights up 3-2.
However, the refs waved the goal claiming goalie interference, but after further review, it appeared the puck was loose the entire time, and Barbashev shoved the puck in. Golden Knights coach John Tortorella challenged the call, and after review, the call was confirmed as no goal, and Vegas was assessed a two-minute delay of game penalty.
On the ensuing power play, Carolina scored to take a 3-2 lead, and Vegas' bench was fuming with anger. Although the Golden Knights did tie the game and force overtime before losing, had the goal counted, it could have changed the entire game and potentially the series.
Former NHL player and now analyst for TNT Sports and co-host of the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, Paul Bissonnette, claims Vegas was screwed out of a goal and potentially a 2-0 series lead.
"It was never frozen for one second," Bissonnette said on Spittin' Chiclets on June 5. "When Barbashev made contact, there was no sign of him freezing it there. There was no interference there whatsoever. I think this was a botched call. I think it goes back to the referee on the ice. When he lost contact with it, the ref can't see that puck. When Barbashev comes around the net, he tries to stuff it, the puck is still moving around.
"At no point was it frozen. It came back out, and he hit it again, and as it's loose, he pokes at it again; it's all happening in one motion. It's clear (the ref) blown (it) too early, there's no goalie interference whatsoever. I believe Vegas got hosed and that should've been the go-ahead goal."
Bissonnette's co-host and three-time NHL All-Star Keith Yandle also agreed that the goal should've counted.
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"If that's free and loose and you can see it, you are allowed to poke at that thing," Yandle added.
Ultimately, Vegas did tie the game late before Seth Jarvis scored the OT winner for the Hurricanes to even up the series 1-1, but Bissonnette believes Vegas should likely be up 2-0 in the series.
John Tortorella Has No Regrets On Challenge
As Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella got a few looks at the replay, he challenged the call on the ice.
However, the call of no goal stood, which resulted in a Hurricanes power play and a goal. Despite the outcome, Tortorella said he has no regrets about the challenge and would do it again.
"I'd challenge it 10 out of 10 times," Tortorella said postgame on June 4.
Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner, meanwhile, admitted he was surprised that the no-goal stood.
"I think everyone was (surprised the goal didn't count)," Marner said. "The puck was free. Barbie gets all puck there, and that's sometimes how the game goes."
Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final takes place on Saturday, June 6, in Vegas at 8 p.m. ET.
Related: NHL Trade Deadline Literally Saved the Maple Leafs From Disaster
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 10:41 PM.