Comments on: NHL Brain Teaser

By: Clay

Clay — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:56:39 +0000

I have to dispute Steve’s interpretation of when it happens in the NFL — if a player fumbles the ball in the end zone, regardless of whether it was a run or a pass, they had control of the ball in the end zone, and thus it’s a touchdown(similarly, players stretch out to get past the plane of goal line, ignoring the fact that they’re much more likely to fumble when doing so, because once the ball crosses the plane, it’s a touchdown.).

What’s theoretically possible, I suppose, is that a pass goes through someone’s hands, and someone else intercepts it, then returns it for a touchdown — one team would say that the receiver had control of the ball long enough for it to be a touchdown, and the other would say that it was an incomplete pass up until the point it was intercepted.

And, of course, Rich’s niggling answer would be correct in the NFL case, too.

Also, I suppose that someone in the NBA could very quickly rebound an attempted three-pointer off the rim, make a full-court shot from that spot, and get called for goal-tending.

I don’t know NBA review rules well enough to be able to tell you if that sort of a thing is reviewable or not, and I find it unlikely that the whistle wouldn’t have been blown by the time the rebounding player got the shot off.

By: Ross

Ross — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:57:44 +0000

What if the review showed both of the play’s goals didn’t count? One was a goal post, the other puck never crossed the goal line in its entirety. The ref didn’t signal goal on either play. Then the score would be 2-2. Once a call goes to Toronto it is out of the ref’s hands.

By: Rich

Rich — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:12:02 +0000

Hmmm…

Upon further review, I will have to dispute your answer

The scenario: The game between Pittsburgh and Toronto is tied 2-2 and Tyler Kennedy comes down and shoots what looks like a goal but the ref waives it off and says no goal and Toronto comes down the other way and Jason Blake (who always freakin scores against the penguins) blows one by Marc-Andre Fleury. Before the puck is dropped for the Blake goal, upstairs (ie the NHL Office) calls in and says the Kennedy shot is under review. If you were to ask the ref at that time - he should tell you the score is 3-2 Toronto - because that is reflective of the calls that were made by the officials on the ice. (If he’s a nice guy he may tell you “However there is a review going on that may change the score”).

The reason for this is because what upstairs is doing will reverse the
call, until that moment that the call is officially reversed what is
called on the ice is “official”. A referee on the ice is instructed to
always make a call one way or the other (goal/no goal) and that is
considered official unless it has been reversed - but until it is
reversed - what the referee called is official.

Two main reasons for this: 1) The referee is talking to the head office
and the phone call drops (you’ve seen the cingular ads - a drop call
makes a world of difference ;)) - if communication can’t be restored in
a reasonable amount of time (I believe it’s at the refs discretion)what
was called on the ice stands. 2) When the replay is inconclusive (or
the video replay is inaccessible) what was called on the ice by the
referee stands.

If you’re ever at a game where this happens (or watch it on tv) the home team is instructed to put the score on the board — In the case above while the call was being reviewed the score board at Mellon Arena would show 3-2 Toronto and then once the referee got notification from the head office they would then switch the scoreboard to 3-2 Pittsburgh.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:58:05 +0000

I think Ian and Steve have it. Assuming the second goal was fairly clear-cut, then we know that there was exactly one goal scored, we just don\’t know which team will get it.

Good puzzle!

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:25:25 +0000

OK, I’ve been coming back for a week. Is there an answer?

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:51:53 +0000

Given the example that there is a shot on goal against the Penguins which appears deflected, it is then returned immediately for a goal against the Islanders. However on video review of the stop on goal, it appears that the puck crossed the goal line, it would then be the case that one team or the other HAD scored, but it was yet to be determined which team it was.

The NFL example would be a fumble on a pass reception in the endzone returned for a touchdown. If the fumble is ruled legal, one team scored, if the player is ruled as being down, the other scores.

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:52:41 +0000

There has been a close call at one end of the ice where it is possible that the puck may have crossed the line, but the play continued and a goal was scored at the other end of the rink. At the stoppage for the goal the close call is being examined via the video replay. Depending on the out come of the replay either team would be ahead by one goal

By: Andrew C

Andrew C — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:11:04 +0000

When looking at a replay of an empty net goal to see if a goal scored. If the pucked scored during a previously tied game (2-2), he could relay that the goal was scored and the score was 3-2… but because it was empty net and the replays at the goal line are very close, might not be able to see, simply from the replay, whose goal the puck went into.

By: Duh

Duh — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:11:03 +0000

A tie. Any tie. The start of the game for instance. Random guy “Whats the score?” Ref: “Zero Zero.” Random guy “Who’s winning?” Ref “Are you high…?” Any time the points are even the ref can tell you the score, but because no one is winning, he can not tell you someone is winning. First half, second half, overtime it doesn’t matter. No one is winning if the score is tied.

By: Jarrett

Jarrett — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:49:55 +0000

I say overtime shoot out. The ref could tell you the score of the actual game but not whose winning because its a shootout, the goals don’t count until the final shot is made. Therefore, he cannot tell you who is winning because its a tie even though one team may have more goals in the shoot out over the other.

I’m glad you put this up because I think I’m the only person I know, out of my friends, who watches hockey and loves hockey more than the other sports. If you’re an Islanders or Penguins fan, I’m sorry, Flyers fan all the way and it behooves me to be obnoxious about it because I’m from Philadelphia.