Ruling Lauded, Criticized

Video replay reared its ugly head Monday at the Arrowhead Pond.

Predictably, the Ducks were pleased and the San Jose Sharks were not after a game-tying goal in the second period was nullified.

San Jose’s Bob Rouse shot the puck from the top of the right faceoff circle, teammate Ron Sutter then appeared to boot the rebound beneath Duck goalie Guy Hebert and into the net.

The goal would have tied the score, 4-4, at the 16:30 mark of the second period. After a long delay, it was determined that Sutter kicked the puck into the net.

“If there’s doubt and you’re not sure, it should be a goal,” Sutter said. “I did not, honestly, even think I touched the puck. I hit it with the shaft of my stick. It went in off my stick and off me, but there clearly was not any intent to kick it in at all.”

Asked for his view of the play, Hebert said: “I’m the last guy to ask. I made the save. The next thing I knew my face is in the snow and [teammate] Teddy Drury is lying on top of me.”

The NHL modified the rules governing attacking players in a crease this season, no longer automatically waving off goals under those circumstances. However, video replay is still used for determining if goals are scored with a deliberate kicking motion.

The nullified goal gave the Ducks life and they went on to win, 5-3. The Sharks lost their second consecutive game after starting the season with a 3-0 record.

“The way we played in the third period, I’m not sure it would have mattered,” said Paul Baxter, San Jose assistant coach. “”We got outshot, 18-4--that’s not good enough. Three goals should be enough to win a hockey game.”

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Center Antti Aalto sat on the bench Monday nursing a cold, but only because Coach Craig Hartsburg needed a full roster of 20 players dressed. With Ruslan Salei, Pascal Trepanier and Jim McKenzie suspended, the Ducks had only 19 healthy and eligible players. Aalto did not take a shift.