NHL is Looking to Expand Video Review Process After Controversial Postseason

The 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs have included an abundance of story lines for almost every team that qualified.

From the Columbus Blue Jackets sweeping the Tampa Bay Lightning, to the plethora controversial calls that benefitted the San Jose Sharks along their journey to the Western Conference Finals.

Because of the controversy caused by the lack of video review for certain occurrences throughout the course of a game, the NHL will look to expand on what can and cannot be reviewed, according to commissioner Gary Bettman.

There is no information on what the expanded video review will entail, but there will certainly be something to prevent game and series-altering missed or blown calls, as we have seen a handful of times throughout the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

For example, in Game 7 of the first round between the Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights, Cody Eakin was assessed a game-misconduct for a hit that was arguably legal. On the 5-minute major penalty, the Sharks scored four goals to take the lead in the game, and ended up winning the game, and the series, in overtime.

The hand pass that set up the overtime game winning goal for the Sharks in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals is another play the NHL is looking at when expanding replay. The play saw Timo Meier fall to his knees and purposely shovel the puck into the slot with his glove to a teammate, who passed to Erik Karlsson for the game-winner.

No fan wants to see every single play of a game reviewed, but the NHL needs to make it possible to correct mistakes made throughout the course of the game. Ensure that a bad or missed call does not determine the outcome of a game, much less a playoff series, is of the utmost importance for the league.