Dubnyk Blasts NHL Goalie Interference Review: “It’s a joke.”

Devan Dubnyk was unhappy not just with the San Jose Sharks’ 4-0 loss to Arizona.

Late in the third period, Phil Kessel jammed in a goal that was immediately challenged by Bob Boughner.

SCIENTIFIC FACT: Phil Kessel is both red-hot and cold-blooded!

Phil's 2nd goal of the night and #Yotes lead by 3! pic.twitter.com/qrc3wUmBZk

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) March 28, 2021

The Sharks would lose this challenge and be assessed a minor penalty. This would make it 3-0.

“It’s a joke,” Dubnyk said of the decision to let this goal stand.

“Tonight, I was told that was Phil Kessel’s followthrough. Continued motion of the followthrough. You guys watched the play. I watched the play a bunch on the JumboTron. If you’re gonna sit here and honestly tell me that’s the guy’s followthrough…that’s tough,” the San Jose Sharks netminder volunteered. “If he would have shoveled my pad with the puck underneath it, would it have counted? If the answer is no, the answer is that shouldn’t count either.”

It’s been a tough weekend in this department for San Jose’s keepers. Last night, Boughner lost the challenge on this Dryden Hunt goal.

Second of the year for Dryden Hunt, pushing the Arizona lead to 3!#Yotes pic.twitter.com/HwROfy53te

— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) March 27, 2021

Dubnyk was equally frustrated with this goal too: “I don’t think the one on Jonesie should have counted last game. I think anybody watching that play, has any sort of idea about playing goal, knows that as soon as that guy touches him in his shoulders, you’re facing the other way, you have no chance to make the save. That’s what goalie interference is.

“He was in his crease, unprovoked skatethrough.”

For Dubnyk, it wasn’t just one bad weekend for the San Jose Sharks goalies. It was a microcosm of the veteran’s frustration with the NHL’s Goaltender Interference Review, instituted in 2015-16. That season, the league opened up replay review for goaltender interference to coaches’ challenges. Since March 2018, an off-the-ice official has made the final call on such challenges.

“Ever since goalie interference review has come into the league, I’ve found it pretty inconsistent,” Dubnyk said. “Unfortunately, it kind of stops the referees from making any calls on the ice because they’re kind of relying on the review process. I’m not going to be the only guy that tells you it’s been a little frustrating from the goalie side of it.”