NHL Officials Satisfied With Use of Replay

After what seemed an excess of video replays in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, NHL officials said Thursday they were pleased with the system and the way it was assisting on-ice calls.

“From my perspective, it works,” said Brian Burke, senior vice president and director of hockey operations. “We have encouraged the referees to use replays. We’d rather be right than wrong.”

On Tuesday, the New York Rangers won an overtime game against Florida on a goal that was allowed by the replay after first being waved off by referee Dan Marouelli. The next night, an apparent goal by Ottawa was waved off by referee Mick McGeough and could not be reviewed because of malfunctioning video equipment.

The Senators eventually won the game.

Much of the debate involves the question of a man in the goalie’s crease.

In 31 playoff games, there have been 28 reviews, 21 of them concerning a man in the crease.

Burke said the rule would be examined by general managers during the Stanley Cup finals.

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Dominik Hasek won’t be in goal tonight when the Buffalo Sabres play the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoffs. He has a sprained knee.

No problem there.

But the Sabres thought they needed Hasek’s entire team, along with President Larry Quinn, General Manager John Muckler and members of the front office in the dressing room Thursday to show support for their goaltender while he read a statement.

The Sabres were worried about reports around Buffalo and across Canada that Hasek might not be hurt at all but is succumbing to a season’s worth of pressure. Hasek read the statement and walked out without taking questions.

“What hurts at this time is that my dedication to my teammates, this city, the organization and the fans has come in question,” Hasek said. “As a professional hockey player, I accept and deal with the pressure every day. . . . It’s what I thrive on.”

Said Senator defenseman Frank Musil, who lived with Hasek for 10 years in the Czech Republic, “I know Dom. He wouldn’t quit. . . . If he was capable of playing, he would be in there. He likes to be playing in the big games. We don’t know how injured he is, but I would never question his heart . . . ever.”