Lately, video review has become as unfavorable to the Calgary Flames as the St. Louis Blues.
Tuesday night was another example, as a critical video review dashed the Flames` aspirations to keep pace with the Blues` tenth consecutive victory, evoking memories of 2004.
Trailing 1-0 after the first period in Utah, a centering pass from Mikael Backlund early in the second period deflected off defenseman Nick DeSimone and headed towards the goal.
Karel Vejmelka blocked the puck with his left pad, but the league reviewed to determine if it had crossed the goal line beforehand, reminiscent of Martin Gelinas` disallowed goal in Game 6 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.
A high-angle camera view shown on the Sportsnet broadcast convinced many Flames fans that the puck was clearly off the goal line, but league officials disagreed.
Similar to two previous video reviews against Dallas that contributed to Calgary`s only regulation loss in their last eight games, this decision also could have easily favored the Flames.
Unfortunately, it did not.
Tristan Blackwood