Panthers’ Tarasov gives pointed response to Sabres’ go-ahead goal: ‘It was contact’

Daniil Tarasov was frustrated.

And understandably so.

The game-changing play of the Florida Panthers’ 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night, in the eyes of the Panthers’ goaltender, shouldn’t have counted.

Buffalo scored on a Beck Malenstyn shot from the point with 8:32 left in regulation to go up 2-1, but Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson grazed Tarasov’s glove as the puck went into the net.

Florida challenged for goaltender interference.

Officials ruled the call stood despite a ref agreeing with Tarasov that, yes, Samuellson did make contact with his glove while his skate was in the crease, although Tarasov’s extended glove appeared to be outside the crease.

“It was contact before the shot,” Tarasov said postgame. “Like, whoever did the call on this in Toronto [at the NHL’s situation room], I don’t know what these guys were smoking there or they were disappointed about yesterday’s loss [with Florida beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 on Friday]. I don’t know. It’s hard to say. I’m going to catch this puck and the guy’s just driving on me. They said it was slightly contact that’s allowed because he tried to tip the puck, but I can’t even move to a different way [because of it]. He just stopped me to reach the puck, in my opinion.”

The NHL situation room’s explanation of the call standing: “After video review, it was determined that the incidental contact between Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson and Florida’s goaltender Daniil Tarasov occurred in the white ice and, therefore, did not constitute goaltender interference.”

“The rules change all the time, like every single game,” Tarasov said.

According to the NHL rule book (specifically Rule 69.1), “Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.” The rule book defines contact as “any contact that is made between or among a goalkeeper and attacking player(s), whether by means of a stick or any part of the body.”

“I thought he was riding the glove and made contact with it twice,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “For me, that was pretty quick and easy [to challenge]. I didn’t spend much time thinking about it.”

Nevertheless, the good goal shifted momentum back in Buffalo’s favor for good. The Sabres pushed their lead to 3-1 on a Peyton Krebs empty-netter with 1:17 left. Sam Bennett scored with 35 seconds left to cut the deficit back to one but Florida could get no closer.

Buffalo’s Alex Tuch and Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk each scored power-play goals to open scoring for both teams.

And now the Panthers’ already thin hopes to make a run to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs are getting thinner.

Florida falls to 30-26-3 and remains eight points back of the Boston Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s final wild card spot with 23 games left to play.

“It’s a tough loss,” said Tarasov, who finished with 36 saves. “We played outstanding today on a back-to-back against a good team. We’re chasing the playoffs and it’s tough to lose like this.”

The Panthers now head on the road for a four-game trip that starts Sunday against the New York Islanders (6:30 p.m., ESPN) and continues with games Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils (7 p.m., TNT), Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m., Scripps Sports) and Friday against the Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m., Scripps Sports).

Panthers’ Tarasov gives pointed response to Sabres’ go-ahead goal: ‘It was contact’

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