Controversial non-goal keeps Wolves skidding
BY SETH GRUEN For Sun-Times Media November 17, 2012 11:20PM
Wolves forward Steve Pinizzotto (9) decks Peoria’s Scott Ford in the first period. | Ross Dettman~Wolves
Updated: December 19, 2012 4:02PM
Since he became the Wolves’ general manager four years ago, Wendell Young always was a strong replay advocate. He finally got his wish when the AHL installed replay usage this season.
But in the Wolves’ game Saturday against the Peoria Rivermen at Allstate Arena, Young saw there’s still much work to be done.
Wolves right wing Andrew Gordon’s would-be go-ahead goal was ruled to be saved by goalie Jake Allen, a decision that was incorrectly confirmed by replay. That was the difference in the Wolves’ 3-2 loss.
The officials are only allowed an overhead camera view when reviewing plays and can’t use the video-board replay. The overhead view didn’t conclusively show the puck had crossed the goal line.
But replays on the video board showed that Gordon clearly had scored.
The officials explained to Wolves coach Scott Arniel that their view was too blurry to overturn the call.
“The clarity is not there enough for overhead, and we’ve got to have different angles, and I think that’s something we had talked about in the meetings,” Young said.
“It will be something brought up at meetings again. Again, baby steps with this system.”
Gordon’s non-goal was a turning point, but the Wolves still had plenty of opportunities to win.
They had 27 shots on goal but failed to score on three power plays.
The Wolves took an early lead on Steve Pinizzotto’s goal at 4:43 in the first period. But Peoria came right back and scored twice. The Rivermen nearly took a two-goal lead as time expired in the first period, but Phil McCrae’s goal was disallowed.
Gordon tied the game at 3:40 in the second period before the Rivermen’s Sergey Andronov notched the game-winner at 9:21 in the third.
“We need to make sure we bear down when we get our chances,” Wolves captain Darren Haydar said. “We are missing the net a lot, and we’ve got to get bodies to the net.”
The Rivermen beat the Wolves 3-2 in overtime Friday. The Wolves have lost three in a row and four of their last five.
