MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
Those aren’t the same.
When the puck is loose and the shooter is trying to jam it in and his stick is on the puck, I don’t think the rule requires that he must give way and let the goalie have it. If the goalie’s glove or pad was on it, that’d be different, but when the puck is loose in front of him? I don’t think it’s a bad call.
They're 100% the same. The Washington goaltender was in position, and made the save. The puck was not frozen, so play could continue, but the Av pitch forking the goalie's pad with enough force to flex his stick is absolutely goaltender interference. Once that goalie's legs was in position, any contact with the goalies leg that makes them unable to continue holding position to make a save is by definition, goaltender interference. We see refs fuck this up all the time for some reason. But the rule is absolutely black and white on it.
That player was absolutely entitled to follow the puck into the crease and to attempt to play the puck, because it wasn't frozen. But he clearly pitch forked the goalie's pad.
A goalie is entitled to their position in the crease, full stop.